Hi all,
Last spring I bought a silkie (buff orp?) cross, the lady who sold her to me said she was 2-3 years old but couldn't be certain as she had a bazzillion chickens. This hen and another silkie hen were both raising a week old chick together, I dont think either were the mother, I bought all three of them. All spring and summer she layed like a champ, she was actually my best layer. When winter came she stopped, despite all the other hens who kept poppin' 'em out. NOW, she is COMPLETELY broody, wont leave the nest for love or money (or food or freedom) and will aggressively fight me off when I go to collect the other hen's eggs. To make that even more confusing for me, she's molting. Do you think it's just a combination of season and molting that would make her act this way? Or is she going through hennappause? I'm not sure if this could be related, but just before she went broody, I got four new five week old chicks, who live in a mother-in-law coop next to them, until they're big enough to hold their own. I thought maybe she was wanting to mother them, but honestly this hen is kind of a b***h normally, and I know she would peck them within an inch of their lives if they're lucky. Why are chickens so complicated? Is Hennapause a word? : )
