Broody hen being picked on

[Chickens :)]

hello everyone! I have got a broody hen who sits in the nesting box all day but occasionally comes out to get some food and water. I have noticed a couple of times that when she goes out of the nesting box she can’t get back in because the other birds are attacking her and blocking her way. She has lost many feathers on her neck and seems to always be picked on. The other day I went to check on her and when I opened the lid to the nesting box one of my lohman chickens grabbed her by the neck and flung her out. She is a frizzle so she is a lot smaller than the ones who are attacking her. Is there anyway that I can keep her safe without the others attacking her? I have been giving her food in the mornings and afternoons to make sure she is eating. Is it a good idea to seperate her from the others while she is still broody and wait to she has broken her broodiness to put here back in the box?

Any suggestions will be helpful
Thank you

 

[Chickens :)]

I have also noticed that her comb has gone from standing up to flipped over her head. The back is also turning a bluey purple colour. Does anyone know why this happens? Is it because she isn’t getting enough nutrients?

 

[aart]

Are you sure she's broody or is she ill and/or bullied so is hiding in nests?
Does she spend the nights on the nest?
Any other broody behaviors?

Funky foo-foo birds are often best in a flock of same, especially if she's a bantam.

 

[Chickens :)]

She has been sitting on the eggs and usually attacks you and fluffs up when you go near her. I am just worried that she won’t be getting enough food and water.

 

[PirateGirl]

Are you letting her hatch these eggs or are you trying to break her broodiness? If she is hatching, perhaps a quiet spot away from the others would be good for her and the babies when they come along.

 

[Chickens :)]

My plan is to put some eggs under her. I just needed to make sure she was broody first. I think that I should move her to another spot with no chickens and hopefully I can put some eggs under her and she won’t leave them. She is a first time mother so I was t sure if she would stick it out. Thanks for all your advice!

 

[PirateGirl]

My plan is to put some eggs under her. I just needed to make sure she was broody first. I think that I should move her to another spot with no chickens and hopefully I can put some eggs under her and she won’t leave them. She is a first time mother so I was t sure if she would stick it out. Thanks for all your advice!

Sounds like a good plan. She will be much more relaxed if she is separate. When I had a broody this summer it definitely rocked the boat and there was fighting when there never had been before. Once she broke and was no longer broody, the fighting stopped and things returned to normal. I just wanted to share that with you so you know there is hope of having a peaceful flock again.

 

[Chickens :)]

Thank you so much! Your advice has really helped

 

[aart]

My plan is to put some eggs under her. I just needed to make sure she was broody first. I think that I should move her to another spot with no chickens and hopefully I can put some eggs under her and she won’t leave them. She is a first time mother so I was t sure if she would stick it out. Thanks for all your advice!

Best to move her, I put up a wire wall in coop to separate, make sure she stays on nest for 24-48 hours, then give her fresh fertile eggs.