Broody or ill?
- Thread starter Syowell
- Start date
You wrote "won't let us" in to see if she's on any eggs. Describe how she won't let you.
Screech?
Peck and/or bite?
Puff up and flatten out like a pancake?
Yes what does it look like? How long has she been on that nest? Has this just happened or has it been going on for a few days?
Typically when a chicken is sick they puff up their feathers and are really lethargic. If they react to you it is usually very slowly. They are hurting and just don't feel good.
There are many behaviors that indicate a hen might possibly be broody. They might be defensive of their nest. Maybe they fluff up and growl at you if you come close or put your hand in there. They might peck you. If they are off the nest they might walk around puffed up and make a constant puck, puck, puck sound. If you take her off the nest and sit her on the coop floor she might sit there all spread out for a while and then either dart off to eat, drink, and poop or go back to her nest. None of these are really conclusive that she is broody enough to deserve eggs. I've seen hens not really broody display some of these symptoms. My test if a hen is really broody is if she spends two consecutive nights on the nest instead of sleeping in her normal spot. Not one night, two consecutive nights.
A hen does not need any eggs to go broody. If she doesn't have any eggs her imagination will create some.
If she truly is broody you need to decide what you want to do. You can break her from being broody, you can give her fertile eggs, or you can maybe wait a week or two and give her some day old chicks. We can help you with that if you can tell us what you want to do.
Typically when a chicken is sick they puff up their feathers and are really lethargic. If they react to you it is usually very slowly. They are hurting and just don't feel good.
There are many behaviors that indicate a hen might possibly be broody. They might be defensive of their nest. Maybe they fluff up and growl at you if you come close or put your hand in there. They might peck you. If they are off the nest they might walk around puffed up and make a constant puck, puck, puck sound. If you take her off the nest and sit her on the coop floor she might sit there all spread out for a while and then either dart off to eat, drink, and poop or go back to her nest. None of these are really conclusive that she is broody enough to deserve eggs. I've seen hens not really broody display some of these symptoms. My test if a hen is really broody is if she spends two consecutive nights on the nest instead of sleeping in her normal spot. Not one night, two consecutive nights.
A hen does not need any eggs to go broody. If she doesn't have any eggs her imagination will create some.
If she truly is broody you need to decide what you want to do. You can break her from being broody, you can give her fertile eggs, or you can maybe wait a week or two and give her some day old chicks. We can help you with that if you can tell us what you want to do.
- Thread starter
- #4
peck at our hands, makes weird squawking noises
Take her off the nest and see what she does. If she's broody she'll likely come off the nest in a trance. When she snaps out of it she'll get some food, keep up with a cluck cluck clucking, walk around like a turkey then head back to settle on the nest.
If she does this you should break her broodiness.
Don't let that stop you, gloves and long sleeves might help.
Gotta be a bit of a warrior to handle the Broody Fierce.
Where did she sleep last night? Sounds like she might be broody but I've had hens on the nest laying eggs peck at me and make threatening sounds if I stuck my hand in there.
When I was a kid on the farm one of my chores was to gather the eggs. When we had a broody hen I had to check under her daily. Most of them were not that bad but occasionally we'd have one that would peck hard. Gloves and long sleeves were not an option. I had to check under that broody hen or tell Mom and Dad I was afraid of a chicken. I checked under her and somehow lived to tell the story. I understand fear, it can hurt. But don't let fear stop you from doing what you need to do. Use that fear to get the gloves and long sleeves. You may find out it isn't as bad as you think.
Assuming she is broody, what do you want to do? Break her from being broody, give her fertile eggs to hatch, or try to give her baby chicks to raise? We can help with this if you wish.
When I was a kid on the farm one of my chores was to gather the eggs. When we had a broody hen I had to check under her daily. Most of them were not that bad but occasionally we'd have one that would peck hard. Gloves and long sleeves were not an option. I had to check under that broody hen or tell Mom and Dad I was afraid of a chicken. I checked under her and somehow lived to tell the story. I understand fear, it can hurt. But don't let fear stop you from doing what you need to do. Use that fear to get the gloves and long sleeves. You may find out it isn't as bad as you think.
Assuming she is broody, what do you want to do? Break her from being broody, give her fertile eggs to hatch, or try to give her baby chicks to raise? We can help with this if you wish.
Bout spit my coffee!
Ditto what Ridgerunner said.
If you are in the Southern Hemisphere - likely broody. Days are longer, temperatures are warmer, time to hatch babies.
If you are in the Northern Hemisphere - likely sick. Days are short, chickens are molting, not broody time.
If you are in the Southern Hemisphere - likely broody. Days are longer, temperatures are warmer, time to hatch babies.
If you are in the Northern Hemisphere - likely sick. Days are short, chickens are molting, not broody time.
Sounds like a broody.
Similar threads
New posts New threads Active threads
-
Latest threads
-
-
Is she a Blue Laced Red or Black Laced Red Wyandotte?
- Started by AussieSuze
- Replies: 0
-
Breeding pens advice! Cockerels
- Started by Homefarm993
- Replies: 0
-
They lied to me, I need taller fences- Started by AngelAnela
- Replies: 0
-
-
-
Threads with more replies in the last 15 days
-
-
-
-
-
Please Help! Eggbound & Possible Prolapsed Vent- Started by Elspeth Dinsmore
- Replies: 82
-
