Confused....are they hiding or broody???

[catlvr976]

Some weeks ago, I asked about my cochin who I thought was going broody. I still don't know what her deal was, gave her some eggs and then she decided she didn't want to sit on them.

Anyhow, within the past few days, both that same cochin and my faverolle have been sitting together in the same nest box. They both puffed up and make strange sounds and rarely leave the nest. Earlier today someone was squawking up a storm and when I went to check bc I thought something was going on, I saw in Francine (the faverolle) wandering around in what looked like some kind of panic....I guess she was upset bc she was kicked out for someone else to lay in it.

They have no eggs under them, they've been sleeping in the nest boxes and just sit there. I am not sure if they are scared bc our young cat was out there the other day and they are just hiding, but everyone else is acting normally.

Any ideas what might be up with them?

Thanks!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

There are a lot of indications that a hen might be broody. They spend a lot of time in the nest. If you approach the nest they might fluff up and growl at you. If you put a hand in there, they may draw blood pecking or they may not peck at all.

They may or may not allow another hen in the nest with them. That really varies. I don’t consider either way to be a true indication.

They don’t poop in the nest but really hold it in. When they get off the nest to poop, they often let out a huge stinky poop. When walking around they normally stay fluffed up and make a regular bok, bok, bok sound. They may get off the nest once a day to eat, drink and poop and finish up in just a few minutes, especially if the weather is a little cold. In the heat of summer I’ve seen a broody stay off the nest for over an hour at a time and do this twice a day.

They may do any and all of these things. But I’ve had several hens that would do most of these and still not really be broody. Her hormones are acting up but she has not fully swung into full broody mode. Some never do.

My test if a hen is broody enough to trust with eggs is that she spend two consecutive nights on the nest instead of roosting in her favorite spot. One night is not enough. I’ve had them do that and be in the roosts the second night. But after two consecutive nights, I give her eggs to hatch.

 

[catlvr976]

Yes, they've been in the nest box for a couple nights now. Griselda the cochin, when she's not in one of these moods, walks around doing that bok bok sound, but I think she's confused bc she does it all the time. It's like this little bok bok bok bok bok thing she does. I will have to look for large poops, but really, they've just been hanging out inside for a couple days now in the same spot.

Francine will seriously growl at you if you try to pet her. Griselda does a little, but not like Francine.

I guess we'll just let them go for a while and see if they stay the way they are. I'd love to let them hatch some eggs, but I hate to buy some only to have them decide that's not what they wanted. LOL Someday I'll get this broody thing figured out.