Broody hen lifts up to let me reach under her..? Is this normal?... Soooo. cute.

[Juju2773]

I have a broody Black Copper Marans named Penelope. I wanted to break her of it so I decided to remove the fake eggs from under her (Which she had rolled from the surrounding nests and gathered),and I would check periodically throughout the day to remove anymore . She would steal the eggs from the nearby nests and roll them under her. At first she’d lightly peck at me, but by the third time, I noticed she would actually raise her body up leaving room for me to slide my hand under her. Haha.. it was soooo cute. She did this a few times before I finally had to pull her off the nest and block her way back to it. But I have never heard of this. Is she just a really good girl.. lol... or is this a normal behavior?

 

[sourland]

It happens. All depends upon the personality of the individual hen.

 

[Crazy Fun Chicken Lady]

I have a broody jail setup in the shade in my covered run. It has a fan, water and food. It's a metal dog crate. I keep a broody hen in jail for a few days and she will let go of that broody cycle. If you do not want to hatch eggs it is not healthy for hens to stay broody. Their metabolism slows way down. My kids have gotten very good at quickly identifying when a hen has gone broody. We have a cochin bantam and a buff orphington in there right now.

 

[LaFleche]

I have a broody Black Copper Marans named Penelope. I wanted to break her of it so I decided to remove the fake eggs from under her (Which she had rolled from the surrounding nests and gathered),and I would check periodically throughout the day to remove anymore . She would steal the eggs from the nearby nests and roll them under her. At first she’d lightly peck at me, but by the third time, I noticed she would actually raise her body up leaving room for me to slide my hand under her. Haha.. it was soooo cute. She did this a few times before I finally had to pull her off the nest and block her way back to it. But I have never heard of this. Is she just a really good girl.. lol... or is this a normal behavior?

That is really cute. My 6 years old French BCM does the same and even talks to the eggs. She is very tame and is always the first to assist in any activity I have to perform in the coops or outside in the run.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I have had broodies that lifted up for me to check under them and I have had broodies that tried to bite my fingers or anything else they could get to, off my body. I am talking pulling back a bloody hand. LOL

 

[aart]

I have had broodies that lifted up for me to check under them and I have had broodies that tried to bite my fingers or anything else they could get to, off my body. I am talking pulling back a bloody hand. LOL

Same here!

 

[MarkJr]

My broody just protests loudly with me. Wife or kids pull back a bleeding hand if they reach anywhere near her. It’s quite interesting