Broody?

[trumpeting_angel]

One of my Buff Orpington pullets is sitting in the nest box now (dark, 12 degrees, others all on the roost).

Is this a sure sign she is broody? Or too soon to tell?

One of my buffies spends a lot of time on the nest, annoying the others. It could be this one.

 

[chickengirl778]

Is she laying eggs yet? If she isn't, she's probably not broody, but if she is, it could either be that she's broody, or she just thinks the box is more comfortable.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Oh, they are all laying eggs. Possibly not the one who decided to molt once it got cold enough!

 

[chickengirl778]

Then she might be broody. Does she stay in the box during the day as well? If yes, she's probably broody, if no, she's either not broody, or just not a great broody.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is that the only sign? DOes she puff up and/or flatten down like a sad pancake if you reach in, or run back into the nest box if you try removing her? Does she making a sort of ticking chirp sound? If you see some of those behaviors, then yes she's likely feeling broody.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

She has been ticking! I think of it as a sort of techno-sounding clucking. And she is a total pancake! I haven’t tried to remove her from the nest.

I see there is a dog crate in my near future! It’s going to get warm in the next couple days, so it will be a good time to confine her.

Thanks, chicken-friends! I was wondering about her ticking!

 

[chickengirl778]

The ticking is so cute! And the pancake is adorable as well unless you don't want broodies, in which case it's still cute but also annoying.

 

[aart]

I was wondering about her ticking!

Once you know that broody cluck (ticking time bomb) you'll spot it even before they start to set. Good luck with breaking her!

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Thanks, @aart ! I’m sure I’ll need it. I’m happy for the warmer weather (-2 Wednesday, 56 tomorrow) because it sounds like a cold process.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

The ticking is so cute! And the pancake is adorable as well unless you don't want broodies, in which case it's still cute but also annoying.

They are quite cute! I love the pancake look. She let me take the single egg beneath her, and ate some of the mash I brought her.

I would love to have her raise chicks for me! Alas, not enough room and more importantly, no rooster!