Broody or something else???

[chicknmania]

Sweetpea, one of our two IB peahens, has been acting broody for a couple of weeks. I can always tell when she is, she wanders around the barn looking for a suitable spot to lay her eggs. I'll see her sitting in weird spots around the barn, etc, followed by her devoted best friend, Snap, (our other peahen). She and Snap are ALWAYS together. Until Snap gets bored once Sweetpea finally settles on a nest. Well today, Sweetpea has been sitting in the rafters of the barn, staring at the wall. She did not come down for breakfast. Snap did come down, and has been wandering around by herself. Someone suggested that maybe Sweetpea is broody, but would she go broody, sitting on a rafter? Not likely, is it? Only asking because I read somewhere that they sometimes lay eggs while sitting on a tree branch....I'm afraid that it might be something else, and hopefully she will come down in that case so she's easier to catch.

Any thoughts? Could she be just broody??

 

[zazouse]

Sweetpea, one of our two IB peahens, has been acting broody for a couple of weeks. I can always tell when she is, she wanders around the barn looking for a suitable spot to lay her eggs. I'll see her sitting in weird spots around the barn, etc, followed by her devoted best friend, Snap, (our other peahen). She and Snap are ALWAYS together. Until Snap gets bored once Sweetpea finally settles on a nest. Well today, Sweetpea has been sitting in the rafters of the barn, staring at the wall. She did not come down for breakfast. Snap did come down, and has been wandering around by herself. Someone suggested that maybe Sweetpea is broody, but would she go broody, sitting on a rafter? Not likely, is it? Only asking because I read somewhere that they sometimes lay eggs while sitting on a tree branch....I'm afraid that it might be something else, and hopefully she will come down in that case so she's easier to catch.

Any thoughts? Could she be just broody??

Has she layed any eggs? none of my hens have ever become broody unless they were done laying a clutch of eggs
Have you watched to make sure she is eating and drinking?

 

[chicknmania]

She was down when I checked at dinner. Outside with Snap. But she was irritable and ran at Snap once or twice. She came in and ate and drank, and they roosted together.. I think she's just hormonal. I haven't seen her lay any eggs, but she may have a hidden nest somewhere, and just not setting them yet. I will just keep an eye on her. Thanks for the response, I'll let you know. Just weird, haven't seen her act quite like that before....

 

[zazouse]

I have seen some of my hens get cranky right before they are fixing to start laying, they even get cranky with the chickens sometimes they want everyone to step aside when they come walking threw. They can teach us many things about themselves if we only pay attention

 

[brittani555]

I see mine digging out holes and bedding down too. I think now that Spring is in full swing, love is in the air : ) Hopefully we all get some eggs soon! This will be my first Peafowl egg gathering!

 

[chicknmania]

It was funny because normally the hens totally ignore the cocks showing off. Well yesterday Snap must have been lonely, because she was admiring Sapphire, who's our alpha cock. But he would squeal and run at her. Then she would go behind him, so she could admire him from behind, without him seeing her, lol. But what is the meaning, when they squeal and run at another bird? Is that supposed to be attractive to the hens? Or is he telling her to back off? I love the peas, but I really don't want more than four....I'm thinking of switching out pea eggs for fake ones this year. If I can. We have the hens solely to keep the boys at home. They do a pretty good job of that. I've never seen them mate, but I have read that they're pretty secretive about it, anyhow.