Are Broodies always rudie...

[Bettyboop7499]

Hey BYC, hope all are fabulous!

I have a Rhode Island Red about a year old on a nest now for four days! She doesn't puff up or peck at me or anything but she is on that nest 24/7. I take a handful of food to her twice a day but I can't get her to drink...she is sitting on eggs. Is she broody or could something else be going on? I do believe she has laid an egg or two and if I lift her off the nest and put her on the ground she instantly starts making a nest-picking up hay and putting it under her. I was under the impression that broody hens were aggressive.

I also have another hen same age as her, a Leghorn, that is behaving the same except she comes off to eat then back on the nest. She isn't aggressive either.

What do you all think? Thank you!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Nope, some of mine will let me pet them, some rarely come of the nest, some come off a couple times a day, some will bite me... the behavior can vary.

 

[Folly's place]

It's possible that one or both of them are broody. Do you have fertile eggs and want chicks, or not? If not, look up ways to 'break' them of this hormone driven behavior.
Broody hens may be very aggressive, or not, and will get off the nest at least once a day to eat and drink, and 'poo'.
It's best to have the broody and her nest isolated from the flock if you want chicks. At least, mark the eggs there now, and remove any new ones daily.
Mary

 

[Bettyboop7499]

Nope, some of mine will let me pet them, some rarely come of the nest, some come off a couple times a day, some will bite me... the behavior can vary.

So, she is mostl-likely broody. I'm so excited, though I do not know if any eggs are fertile...

 

[Bettyboop7499]

It's possible that one or both of them are broody. Do you have fertile eggs and want chicks, or not? If not, look up ways to 'break' them of this hormone driven behavior.
Broody hens may be very aggressive, or not, and will get off the nest at least once a day to eat and drink, and 'poo'.
It's best to have the broody and her nest isolated from the flock if you want chicks. At least, mark the eggs there now, and remove any new ones daily.
Mary

Ok, I do want chicks. I will mark the eggs! Thank you!

 

[Henriettamom919]

Hey BYC, hope all are fabulous!

I have a Rhode Island Red about a year old on a nest now for four days! She doesn't puff up or peck at me or anything but she is on that nest 24/7. I take a handful of food to her twice a day but I can't get her to drink...she is sitting on eggs. Is she broody or could something else be going on? I do believe she has laid an egg or two and if I lift her off the nest and put her on the ground she instantly starts making a nest-picking up hay and putting it under her. I was under the impression that broody hens were aggressive.

I also have another hen same age as her, a Leghorn, that is behaving the same except she comes off to eat then back on the nest. She isn't aggressive either.

What do you all think? Thank you!

Definitely broody! My only advice would be to try tossing her out once a day to encourage eating, drinking and dust bathing. She will be less inclined to do anything if you're bringing the food to her.

My girl wasn't aggressive, either. In fact, as we have no rooster I just reached right in and took her eggs without issue before I knew about broody breaking! She was a nightmare towards her flockmates but actually more affectionate/needy with me!

Good luck hatching chicks!!!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Definitely broody! My only advice would be to try tossing her out once a day to encourage eating, drinking and dust bathing. She will be less inclined to do anything if you're bringing the food to her.

My girl wasn't aggressive, either. In fact, as we have no rooster I just reached right in and took her eggs without issue before I knew about broody breaking! She was a nightmare towards her flockmates but actually more affectionate/needy with me!

Good luck hatching chicks!!!

I've had some like that, as well. They would actually let me pet them if broody and wouldn't otherwise.

 

[Bettyboop7499]

Yeah, it's kind of nice because they let me pet them they just cue & pure. They are actually very sweet to me..But oh my gosh have they gone after each other!

So, I have an egg eater I'm not sure how to break the cycle cause there are so many now. I caught her running and eating one of Reds eggs literally came off her nest for a minute-I moved her nest up to the higher nest. I will reset all nest higher this weekend-hopefully that will help.

 

[21hens-incharge]

If you are trying to hatch chicks it is better to have a fence or separate section to block other hens from bothering the broody hen.

Raising nests higher will make things very difficult for chicks that hatch.

Since I didn't see it asked I will ask.....
Do you have a rooster?
If not no eggs are fertile.

Also....moving hens off nests can break the broody cycle. Best to not mess with them if you want to hatch. Except moving them to a safe place to hatch like a broody coop.....even that carries the risk of breaking the cycle.

Do you have a plan in place for possible makes that hatch?

 

[Bettyboop7499]

If you are trying to hatch chicks it is better to have a fence or separate section to block other hens from bothering the broody hen.

Raising nests higher will make things very difficult for chicks that hatch.

Since I didn't see it asked I will ask.....
Do you have a rooster?
If not no eggs are fertile.

Also....moving hens off nests can break the broody cycle. Best to not mess with them if you want to hatch. Except moving them to a safe place to hatch like a broody coop.....even that carries the risk of breaking the cycle.

Do you have a plan in place for possible makes that hatch?

I do have a Rooster.

Yeah, but the broken egg made a mess and the chickens were mad piling to get it so I had no choice but to scoop up her eggs and set her back on top of them. She did fine. It isn't a big deal if no chicks are hatched, this is my first broody experience so I'm just trying to learn from it and I do try to keep hands off the process as much as possible.

Why the need to separate the hen and eggs from the flock? Will the others kill the chicks?