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!

 

[FeatherToes0328]

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/

Update/Question: I have Miss broody in a separate pen with a mesh bottom during the day, with food & water and I give her whatever fruits/ veggies I have. She goes back into the coop at night to roost with the other 2. I close the doors to the nesting boxes at night. I go open the coop and nesting boxes just before daylight. Once she has laid her egg I put Miss broody in her sperate pen.
-My concern: When she is in her pen she runs back and forth CONSTANTLY, sticks her head thru the holes in the chicken wire trying to get out. I take her out periodically through the day and hold her and pet her to calm her down a bit.
-My Question: Will this behavior caus e her increased stress and affect her egg laying?

 

[Yardmom]

Her egg laying will be affected because she is/was broody. Once hens are fully broody they take a break from laying.

 

[Eggcessive]

She probably would not still be laying at this point if she is broody. Normally they would have stopped laying by now. Once their broody spell is broken, they will continue to not lay for a couple of weeks.

 

[FeatherToes0328]

Her egg laying will be affected because she is/was broody. Once hens are fully broody they take a break from laying.

Actually she is the only one laying because she has been hogging the nest they all prefer. As soon as I let them out of the big coop, the other 2 run out and Miss broody jumps in the nest. She lays an egg pretty quick then I take her back to the isolation pen. There are 3 nesting spots for each of them, but once the first hen built a nest and started laying they all use that same nest. They used to take turns and I would have 3 eggs( 1 from each hen) by noon. Now I'm literally only getting 1 egg per day and it's from Miss Brody I'll send a picture of my set up. I've been watching all their behavior in relation to their laying habits. They each have a unique look and it's very easy to tell them each apart.

 

[FeatherToes0328]

Actually she is the only one laying because she has been hogging the nest they all prefer. As soon as I let them out of the big coop, the other 2 run out and Miss broody jumps in the nest. She lays an egg pretty quick then I take her back to the isolation pen. There are 3 nesting spots for each of them, but once the first hen built a nest and started laying they all use that same nest. They used to take turns and I would have 3 eggs( 1 from each hen) by noon. Now I'm literally only getting 1 egg per day and it's from Miss Brody I'll send a picture of my set up. I've been watching all their behavior in relation to their laying habits. They each have a unique look and it's very easy to tell them each apart.