angry chicken

[Brion]

I have two hens. I had a rooster 4 months ago but gave it away. One of my hens is sitting on the eggs/brooding. I just went in to get the eggs and completely out of character she was pecking me and not getting off her eggs. than after I left the coop (with the eggs) she is running back and forth in attack mode along the inside of the coop, feathers all puffed up!
Since I have never seen her do this I was wanting some information on this behavior.
Thanks,
Brion

 

[korlia]

Im also new to this but it sounds like she is broody. She doesnt need a roo to be broody, she can get broody all by herself.

 

[Brion]

Thanks for getting back to me, I forget like humans chickens have there own personalities!

 

[ChickensRDinos]

It's not her personality, it's her biology. Her brain is telling her to make babies. I would recommend looking up broody behavior so that you can understand what she is doing (and why) and decide how to proceed (ie let her brood even if she does not have fertile eggs and monitor her health, give her fertile eggs or baby chicks, or break the behavior.)

 

[Brion]

That is all true but I guess what surprised me is that I have had chickens for 19 years and never experience a hen that wont leave the eggs and when I did remove them have such a reaction.
I am always learning and will read more about brooding, thank you for your response.

 

[korlia]

There is a really nice broody hem thread on here with lots of super advice. Maybe that will help you a lot. I know it has helped me!