Aggressive Hen?

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Hey guys today I noticed something. My usually sweet Rhode Island Red is kind of acting strange. She was in this nesting box that is the last nesting box on the right. For some reason, all the hens want to use that nesting boxes. They take turns using it. I usually find about 5 of the eggs in that nesting box and like 2 other eggs in another one. But, today my Rhode Island Red was laying when a hen came up to her to use the nesting box. I’ve never seen her do this before but, she puffed up and literally push my barred rock away from her. I think it might be broodiness or there might be something wrong. If you know what’s going on, please help. Thanks in advance!

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Here she is:

 

[Ribh]

Broody. Dealing with this @ present also.

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Thanks for replying! Right after she layed she ran off though. She is a little on the young side. About 30 weeks.

 

[Ribh]

If she's really broody she will stop laying & continue to sit on the nest, do the puff up thing & become quite territorial about the nest. As she's so young her hormones may be sending mixed messages. I've decided all chooks are quite batty @ times & there's no accounting for their behaviour.

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Okay thanks! Thank goodness she isn’t sitting on her egg. My hens would go crazy if she occupied that nesting box. They love that nesting box.

 

[Ribh]

Yeah, Mine all use the same box too & I will often find 3 stuffed in there together & the others lined up waiting their turn.

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Me too. Except once I found 5 in that one nesting box. If the hen has to wait to get into her favorite nesting box, it’s simple, she clicks loudly. The neighbors don’t really appreciate that.

 

[Ribh]

They're social that way. My last layer used to follow every single hen into the nest when she went to lay. I never figured out whether it was to keep them company, learn how it was done or to figure out what all the fuss was about!

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

That sounds like a cute hen!