Broody or sick?

[Stefankeyes]

Hi everyone. I have noticed some strange behaviour from one of my welsummer hens. At first I thought maybe just broody. Although very rare in her breed plus age. She's 10 months old. About 1 week ago she started sitting in her nest all day. However when I go outside to clean and change their water supply every day. She comes out. She clucks away as normal although a bit more excessive now than before. But I've also noticed she flapps around her wings a lot more while making strange sounds. I know they flap out their wings to have a good stretch ect. But this seems more violently and frequent and followed by the strange noise. ill post a video showing what she does. When I enter the nest box while she is in there. She doesn't appear aggressive. Doesn't try growl or chase me out like a typical broody hen. She just comes out of the nest. Any idea if this is normal broodiness or if there's something else happening?

 

[azygous]

Oh, yeah! She's good and broody. No mistaking that behavior. She certainly is not sick.

 

[WIchickMama]

Yep agree, you got a broody hen!

 

[SilverBirds]

Definitely broody.

Is she sitting on eggs? If so, are they fertile?

 

[Stefankeyes]

Definitely broody.

Is she sitting on eggs? If so, are they fertile?

Good news. was hoping it would just be broody! Yes shes sitting on 2 eggs but not fertile ones. I just left her too it after i had called a vet to come check her. but i guess i could now cancel the appointment! could a broody hen stop another hen laying? Our second chicken in video hasnt laid an egg in over a week since that one had gone broody. at least none that i can find in their 8x8ft enclosure. i do wake up hearing the "egg song" but find nothing laying around

 

[CoopBoots]

Hi! Newish person here, so someone more experienced will be along soon. But she probably wouldn't be ok one full week into a serious reproductive issue, and if she is active and happy (no straining posture or lethargy, good color, bright eyes, still eating and drinking when taking her break, not getting bullied by others) she's probably just broody. Do the usual inspection for mites and observe her poop if possible for extra evidence of health.

If you want to be sure, you might try moving her to a private space to see if she lays at all. If she isn't productive, you can then decide if you want to break her of broodiness or give her a clutch.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Oh, yeah! She's good and broody. No mistaking that behavior. She certainly is not sick.

x2, she's full tilt!

 

[Stefankeyes]

Hi! Newish person here, so someone more experienced will be along soon. But she probably wouldn't be ok one full week into a serious reproductive issue, and if she is active and happy (no straining posture or lethargy, good color, bright eyes, still eating and drinking when taking her break, not getting bullied by others) she's probably just broody. Do the usual inspection for mites and observe her poop if possible for extra evidence of health.

If you want to be sure, you might try moving her to a private space to see if she lays at all. If she isn't productive, you can then decide if you want to break her of broodiness or give her a clutch.

Thanks for the info. I had thought about moving her when i first noticed. Just lack of extra space to keep her would be my issue. would it harm for her to sit on unfertile eggs until she rides out the broodiness? apparently Welsummers are notorious for being horrible mothers lol. Also living right in middle of city I wouldn't be able to hatch out any Roos! unfort I was forced to have one put down earlier in the year. As i keep them as hobby / pet it kills me to do that. The food we get from them is just the little bonus but not our main reason for keeping the chickens. Funny little creatures. before this brood stage. every time she would hear me come outside she would come running so fast that she had to flap her wings at the same time haha

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Thanks for the info. I had thought about moving her when i first noticed. Just lack of extra space to keep her would be my issue. would it harm for her to sit on unfertile eggs until she rides out the broodiness? apparently Welsummers are notorious for being horrible mothers lol. Also living right in middle of city I wouldn't be able to hatch out any Roos! unfort I was forced to have one put down earlier in the year. As i keep them as hobby / pet it kills me to do that. The food we get from them is just the little bonus but not our main reason for keeping the chickens. Funny little creatures. before this brood stage. every time she would hear me come outside she would come running so fast that she had to flap her wings at the same time haha

If you aren't going to let her hatch you should break her broodiness now. It's hard on their body and health. Do you have a wire dog crate?

 

[SilverBirds]

Thanks for the info. I had thought about moving her when i first noticed. Just lack of extra space to keep her would be my issue. would it harm for her to sit on unfertile eggs until she rides out the broodiness? apparently Welsummers are notorious for being horrible mothers lol. Also living right in middle of city I wouldn't be able to hatch out any Roos! unfort I was forced to have one put down earlier in the year. As i keep them as hobby / pet it kills me to do that. The food we get from them is just the little bonus but not our main reason for keeping the chickens. Funny little creatures. before this brood stage. every time she would hear me come outside she would come running so fast that she had to flap her wings at the same time haha

The bird in your video is not a Welsummer.

Being broody takes a toll on the hens body. If you don't want to hatch/give her chicks it's best to break her. The easiest way of doing this is by putting her in broody jail. Usually a dog crate is used as jail, but you can use other things. All that is aloud in jail is food, water, and a perch. No bedding. Leave her in the crate for 48-74 hours. If she is still broody, back in jail for another 24 hours.