Broody or sick?

[FeatherToes0328]

One of my 3 Black Copper Marans spent most of the day on the nest yesterday. She is 6 months old. I took 5 eggs out from under her. ( as she 'screamed' at me and pecked the heck out of my hand & arm). I was able to get her to eat a few bites of soft cantaloupe and a few sips of water. I left a little dish of water right in front of her.. I went back out and can't find the water dish anywhere, idk what she did with it. Her crop feels firm. I am going to remove her to a separate cage and then I don't know what to do. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance

 

[FeatherToes0328]

Let me clarify, I believe the eggs I took out were the ones laid yesterday by all 3 of the hens throughout the day.

 

[Perris]

It sounds like broodiness (a sick hen doesn't usually have the energy or interest to scream and 'peck the heck out of your hand and arm') but a couple of other things you could look for is flattening herself out like a pancake and hissing at any other bird that comes near.
There are some good threads and articles on dealing with broodies, either to incubate and hatch some chicks for you or stopping them blocking a nest box.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have a large pen on the ground outside my coop 7 x8 x 4 ft tall. It is large enough for several at a time. I put a roost in mine, and the broody spends a day or two pouting and giving me dirty looks. I throw in some scrambled egg on a paper plate in addition to a bowl of feed, water, and a bit of scratch grains. Usually 3-4 days is enough, but if they go back to a nest box when they are released, they go back for a day or 2 more. Here is a good and long thread with other methods:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-break-a-broody-hen.181289/

 

[FeatherToes0328]

I did read about the broody behavior. But it totally makes sense what you said about a sick hen not having the energy to be raising hell, lol. I took her out this morning and found 1 more egg and her water dish under her. She wasn't thrilled, but she didn't freak out. If you could see her 2 sisters standing at the coop door waiting for her it was so cute. She went straight to the water & food. I slso have a large pen I can put her in if she gets broody again. I'm just glad she's not sick! Thanks so much!