Broody, or is something wrong?

[MysticSummer]

Up until about a month ago I could say I have four hens. However, two of them are getting on in years so we picked up six chicks (minimum at Tractor Supply). It appears we may have one, possibly two Rhode Island Red roosters. We're about to move the young birds out into the "chicken yard."

One of the 14 month old hens has been holed up in the nesting box for the past several days. All my hens prefer to use the same nest and will wait several hours for their turn. Feather has been in the nest for so long now that the other hens (who still won't use the clean and vacant nest) have to share the already occupied one. I've gone so far as to move her to the vacant nest just to gather eggs and she gets very agitated and as soon as I close the lid she returns to the original nest.

None of my girls has ever displayed any signs of broodiness. Is it possible Feather senses the fledgling rooster and is responding? Or is something wrong with her?

 

[muddy75]

 

[Debbie292d]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!

I have seen hens feign being broody to avoid a rooster, but that usually just lasts a few days. Truly broody will last about three weeks unless you break her. Maybe give it another couple of days to see if her behavior changes so you'll know which it is. She should be very angry at you for moving her if she's broody.

We're glad you're here!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
The presence of male chickens around a hen has nothing to do with them going broody. It is their own hormones that make them go broody.
She sounds like she has gone broody. You might want to consider putting her in a broody breaker to break her broodiness as she shouldn't be left in that condition without being permitted to hatch as it takes its toll on their bodies.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC.

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
The presence of male chickens around a hen has nothing to do with them going broody. It is their own hormones that make them go broody.
She sounds like she has gone broody.

What DL said !

 

[MysticSummer]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!

I have seen hens feign being broody to avoid a rooster, but that usually just lasts a few days. Truly broody will last about three weeks unless you break her. Maybe give it another couple of days to see if her behavior changes so you'll know which it is. She should be very angry at you for moving her if she's broody.

We're glad you're here!

I took her out of the nest and put her in a run. She was furious. She's the most reticent of the four adults and for her to attack the other hens and then stomp off back to "her" nest and sit there was, if I wasn't concerned, very amusing. I put out strawberries, blueberries and mealworms as a peace offering and she wanted nothing to do with it. Would it be helpful to introduce the young birds at this time?

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC. I've had many hens go broody when they heard chicks peeping. They could care less about whether a rooster is around but something about babies makes their biological clock start ticking.

 

[Tookie]

Hello, and welcome to BYC!

Sounds like a broody to me!

 

[BDutch]

DobieLovers advice is good.
Breaking broodies comes with keeping chickens. I never let a hen sit to brood on unfertilised eggs / if I have no room for more chickens.
If you ever want a broody to sit and hatch: please read a lot about natural breeding before you take this step.

. Would it be helpful to introduce the young birds at this time?

Possible. Not without a period of ‘see -dont touch . The older hens might peck the chicks to death if you toss them in the adults area.
In the article section you can find a more info about the ‘see -dont touch-method.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/se...uch&t=ams_article&c[title_only]=1&o=relevance

 

[N F C]

Hi, it's nice to meet you...make yourself at home!