Attacked by broody ...

Hello all,

I'm sure glad I never ran into one of these when I was a kid! I'd have never had chickens again!

My banties have gone broody a number of times and have to be hauled off their imaginary nests each night and placed in the coop. Now I have a barred rock that's gone broody in the pampas grass at the back of the property.

The good thing is ... all the other chickens used to lay there sometimes, and having the broody there keeps them from doing that so a lot more eggs are in the nest boxes.

The bad thing is ... I don't want to leave her out all night in case of predators. Tonight she put up a HUGE fuss being taken off her "nest."

I never knew chickens could do this. I've been bitten before, but this little girl did a quick jump-wing-flap thing that could slice you with her feathers. She did that repeatedly, trying to bite me, dancing around in the pampas grass (which is sharp as well and will cut, along with being laced with briers!). When I FINALLY caught her and picked her up, she screamed bloody chicken murder for a good 2 minutes. I've NEVER heard a chicken scream like that! I'm surprised the police didn't show up.

I finally got her in the coop, but I am DREADING tomorrow night ... sigh.

The things we do for our chickens ...

trish