Change in chicken behavior - hormones?

[Sycamore Hill Chicks]

My most skittish chicken Kyla, has always just been tolerant of my touch, evading it if possible, but not trying to ward me away. She took treats from me without hesitation and even seemed to enjoy her time on my lap after a few minutes A month or two ago, she started acting like she was broody, yelling and puffing up in the nest. But every time she lays she still gets off the nest. A few weeks ago, she started acting very portective and defensive even when she wasn’t laying eggs, puffing up and growling when I got near here. I am still able to handle her though. None of my other girls are acting like this. As far as I know, there hasn’t been anything too stressful in the past few weeks. I don’t whether it’s hormones caused by the changing light or something that triggered her to act like a protective mama all the time. She otherwise seems completely healthy.

 

[sourland]

Sounds like pre broody behavior to me. It is most likely hormonal, and she may go full blown broody.

 

[Sycamore Hill Chicks]

Sounds like pre broody behavior to me. It is most likely hormonal, and she may go full blown broody.

That’s what I was thinking too. She was very relaxed today coincidentally. What really made me think that too was she seems to be protective, not scared. Like she’s thinking about her future “babies”