“Pre” broody behavior?

[EggWalrus]

Pre broody behavior... I always see outside among the flock starting a couple days in advance... indicated by the head dropping down and wings flaring out plus a bit of a cluck cluck sound.

The other behaviors I have seen as a standard pecking order, I'm laying here, leave me alone type thing.

I also will NOT let pullets sit, hatch, or brood chicks... until 1 year old as her mind AND body are still going through changes.

In my experience... even truly broody hens can continue laying up to 3 days AFTER they start sitting. But being slow in the box is pretty normal for some ladies.

Young girls can be and often are slow in the box to lay. I've seen them go in sit an hour, come out without laying an egg and do it several times till their body gets it right and they lay an egg. Give them a couple months to get with the program and they will be in and out after laying in no time.

 

[Thechickenchick2]

Thank you everyone! I was in no way feeling like I needed to interfere and break any sort of behaviors/habits but was just more curious than anything. I’ll let her continue to do what she’s doing and time will certainly tell what she is or isn’t up to

 

[Shadrach]

My experience of hens planning to sit much the same as Eggsighted4life.
All the hens and pullets here give a couple of days warning if they are actually going to sit.
First and most obvious sign is as Eggsighted4life describes; wing held open, fast clucking sounds and lowered head; the similar behavior to a mum with chicks. However, they may not behave like this when you approach them but watch them when other hens or cocks approach and you should recognize the signs.
The night before (most here disappear to sit at dusk) the hen eats far more than normal, she knows she may not get the opportunity to eat for a couple of days if she’s free range and sitting out of the coop.
I also agree about discouraging pullets from sitting. The hens and pullets always take their chicks back to the tribe home at some point between a couple of days after hatching and up to six weeks after.
The most senior hen has the easiest time when returning to the tribe home with chicks; the others don’t bother her. Pullets generally have a much harder time. A lot depends on the temperament of the senior cock and the senior hens. If the pullet takes her chicks back to the tribe home and gets bullied by a more senior hen it’s not uncommon for the chicks to try to return to the place they were hatched in and if that was an outside site they’ll probably go up a tree and left to their own devises form a new tribe if they survive.

Let the senior hens sit if you want chicks, they’re senior because they’ve survived and their chicks will get taught why they’ve survived.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I also will NOT let pullets sit, hatch, or brood chicks... until 1 year old as her mind AND body are still going through changes.

Why not? My Sebright x Old English Game Bantam pullet is doing a great job of mothering her chicks.

 

[Shadrach]

A hen planning to sit looks something like this.
This Ruffles from Tribe 1 after she had hatched the two chicks shown in my avatar.
Cillin the cock wants to check the chicks are his and imprint them. The imprinting looks a bit scary when you first see it. The cock lowers his head right next to the chick and stares at it for up to 30 seconds.

 

[Thechickenchick2]

6:45 at night flat as a pancake on over 20 eggs....

 

[aart]

Do you want her to be broody to hatch some chicks?
Do you get 20 eggs in one day?
They really should be all gathered daily until you're sure she's broody.

 

[Thechickenchick2]

Do you want her to be broody to hatch some chicks?
Do you get 20 eggs in one day?
They really should be all gathered daily until you're sure she's broody.

My eggs are gathered daily. The reason I was going in there was to collect eggs

 

[aart]

My eggs are gathered daily. The reason I was going in there was to collect eggs

You must have a lot of birds!
I just threw my serial broody off the nest 5-6th time broody since Apr...SMH.

 

[Thechickenchick2]

You must have a lot of birds!
I just threw my serial broody off the nest 5-6th time broody since Apr...SMH.

I do have quite a few birds lol. Maybe a wee bit obsessed with chickens..


She’s still there... when I go to lock up the flock around 830 I’ll see if she’s still in there and make a decision. Ive wanted a broody girl so bad that I went and spent my life savings on silkies lol! Should have just waited... isn’t that always the way?