Chicken stays in a corner all the time, but not injured or on eggs

[LauraLM]

I have a Barred Rock hen, 1 year old, that has spent the past few weeks just sitting in a corner of the coop. She will eat if food brought to her, and is drinking water. Can't find any injuries. She lets me hold her and I take her outside for some sunshine. When I take her out of the coop, she will pick at grass a little, get a drink, and run right back to her corner. No idea what is going on. Anyone seen anything like this before?

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Hi and welcome to BYC! It's possible that she has decided to go broody and wants to hatch out some chicks. She just happens to have picked that specific corner of the coop for her nest

 

[LauraLM]

I haven't seen any eggs from her during this time. Also, she is completely antisocial with the other chickens. Is this normal when brooding?

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I haven't seen any eggs from her during this time. Also, she is completely antisocial with the other chickens. Is this normal when brooding?

Yes, very normal. Usualy they will lay a clutch of eggs to sit on first but not always. I've had some that would sit on air forever lol

 

[snow5164]

Hi,
I had three hens do that a few weeks apart . They were lacking nutrition in their diet and were basically not feeling well . I think a hen standing alone anywhere is not well. They don't like to be alone .

I'd add some electrolytes to the water , maybe scramble an egg and see if she comes ... she should want to eat .

I fed mine the electrolyte water by dropper and added that same water to the feed so they had to eat it

 

[Eggcessive]

You can place her in a wire dog crate with no bedding to nest, but with her own food and water. A 2x2 low roost would help to cool off her bottom to break her broody spell. I would offer her some chopped egg, liver, or a little tuna for some extra protein and vitamins. She could be let out daily for some exercise, as long as she is kept in the cage the rest of the time. It can take 5 days or even more to break a broody.