Can broody hens that have no fertilized eggs still pick out chest feathers?

[Chicken Chicken Love]

I was wondering because of something I read!

 

[CrazyChicken Lady]

Oh yes they can!!
My broody hen wasn't even sitting on eggs and she still pulled out her feathers, they don't care if they have eggs or not they are trying to prepare their nests for babies.

 

[MarkJr]

Absolutely

My broody didn’t have a rooster 6 weeks before she went bat-crap-broody. It’s the reason I threw 5 ‘day olds’ under her. Wasn’t going to put up with it again this year.

 

[Chicken Chicken Love]

I've never heard of the hen plucking herself

From what I've read the hen that is broody creates a sort of heat pouch which is a square where they have picked out their feathers and it is just skin for the chicks to snuggle up to! Then they use those feathers for their nest!

 

[Chicken Chicken Love]

Oh yes they can!!
My broody hen wasn't even sitting on eggs and she still pulled out her feathers, they don't care if they have eggs or not they are trying to prepare their nests for babies.

Thank you! Arent chickens amazing!

 

[MarkJr]

I've never heard of the hen plucking herself

Broody hens are bare skinned where eggs make contact from my knowledge. They pull the fine feathers and they wind up here there.... and pretty much all over.

 

[CrazyChicken Lady]

Thank you! Arent chickens amazing!

Your welcome.
They really are awesome!!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

My hens never pluck themselves or use feather for their nests unless the feathers are already there

I've had 3 birds that have gone broody. First 2 did not pluck their bellies. 3rd one did before she fully set, leaving an entire nest box festooned with her feathers.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I've never heard of the hen plucking herself

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Broody hens are bare skinned where eggs make contact from my knowledge. They pull the fine feathers and they wind up here there.... and pretty much all over.

My hens never pluck themselves or use feather for their nests unless the feathers are already there