Broody?

[animallover505]

I have a dominique hen that has started sleeping in a nest. She puffs up a little, but she stands up when I put my hand under her to look for eggs. Is she broody? This behavior has been going on for a few days and I was just wondering. She goes out some daily, but not as much as the others.

 

[Judy]

A true broody will stay on the nest 24/7, except, usually, for one outing daily, when they leave a huge, stinky "broody poop," and of course eat and drink and maybe scratch around or dust bathe a little. In nature, they first collect several eggs, then being sitting. Maybe she thinks she is gathering her clutch of eggs and will turn fully broody soon. But she might also just not feel good, or be at the bottom of the pecking order and hiding from bullies.

 

[animallover505]

she's middle of the pecking order, 3rd of 5, and she almost never gets pecked.