Can hens brood out in the open?

[rachgee]

I can’t find an answer to this anywhere, so hopefully you all can help me!

I have a 2yo hen who has been acting broody…except that she’s out in the open half the time. She doesn’t want to stand up, but is certainly able to walk around if I pick her up and place her back down. Her appetite is decreased. Sometimes I’ll find her inside the coop, but not in the nesting box. During the day she’s usually out with the others, just lying down/nesting in the middle of the run. I thought she was sick but she seems healthy otherwise. Comb looks healthy.

Is she sick? Is she broody??

 

[Hungry Chicken]

I am not particularly good at diagnosing chicken illnesses but here's my thoughts on the broodiness: Yes I have definitely seen hens being broody in the open & odd locations. Essentially wherever they think will be a good nest for the chicks. And especially if they free range, they lay eggs in weird places too - hence brooding there as well.

My friend's silkies (broody queens they are) go aggressively broody wherever they want, on whatever they want - I've seen them trying to sit on mushrooms, rocks & ping pong balls

More serious note: is she being bullied/chased out of the nesting box by some mean hens? Or does she just not want to be there. Easiest way to see if she's broody is if she's all grumpy and puffs up her feathers like crazy. And makes angry clucking sounds. Brooding hens do eat less as their attention is focused more on sitting on eggs than consuming food. Then again, they don't need as much since they're not using much energy moving around.

If you want her to hatch, try testing her dedication with some fake eggs. Otherwise I'd suggest breaking her. Hope this is of some use!

 

[Nomadicus]

I can’t find an answer to this anywhere, so hopefully you all can help me!

I have a 2yo hen who has been acting broody…except that she’s out in the open half the time. She doesn’t want to stand up, but is certainly able to walk around if I pick her up and place her back down. Her appetite is decreased. Sometimes I’ll find her inside the coop, but not in the nesting box. During the day she’s usually out with the others, just lying down/nesting in the middle of the run. I thought she was sick but she seems healthy otherwise. Comb looks healthy.

Is she sick? Is she broody??

Good Morning and Welcome to BYC. I've had a hen that was walking around clucking for several days before she actually set on eggs in the nesting box. Is this the first time this hen has shown signs for being broody? She may just be a bit confused if it is. Is she from a breed that is known for being broody?

 

[Nomadicus]

@rachgee if you like this is the link for introducing yourself as a new member of BYC. You can also get a discussion started there about you hen. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/new-member-introductions.44/

 

[rachgee]

I typically only have one broody hen per year, out of the 8ish hens I typically have. No roosters. She’s never been broody.

I’ve also only had hens for five years so my experience with broody hens isn’t extensive.

I had forgotten about the puffed up feathers. She doesn’t do that at all, which makes me lean toward illness. She just has no other symptoms of anything and it’s baffling.

Unless there are broody hens who don’t puff up?? Also, she never sits on the eggs. She’s sitting in other weird spots, not where eggs are laid.

And my hens have never been aggressive while broody. Weird I know.

 

[Hungry Chicken]

Huh that is kind of strange. What breed is she? I've had 2 broody hens (olive egger & blue ameraucana), they are not aggressive but definitely puff up their feathers. Meanwhile my friend's silkies are crazy aggressive but they're so small and fluffy they hardly have feathers to puff up...

Considering she's not sitting on the eggs, I might lean away from broodiness a little. Is she still laying? You mentioned she's not eating as much, try getting some more food down her to see if that helps. If she won't eat regular food try some wet bread/scrambled eggs, my chickens eat those when they refuse other food. I'm thinking it could maybe be the heat? Not very experienced with illness, just throwing it out there. Make sure she drinks water, maybe consider adding some electrolytes

 

[FrostRanger]

I'm thinking she's probably ill rather than broody as well. Chickens are masters of hiding illnesses until it's too late. I'd separate her and try and figure out what's going on