Constant Cluck/Grunt

[Adolph Otto]

Hi Everyone,
I am a little concerned about one of my 3 girls, named May. English Orp, a little more than 2 years old.
She has heretofore been my least vocal hen, however, for the past 4-5 days, she is constantly emitting a steady cluck or grunt. Today a few more things suggest something is going on. She settled into the nest as if to lay. I checked in on her 2 hours later and she was still there, no egg. I picked her up and put her down (she was broody once last year) and she immediately crouched. I then carried her outside and she perked up, and followed me to the run, where she went right for some scratch I threw.
A few minutes ago I let them all out for their evening forage, but May lagged behind, lifting her left leg oddly a little higher than her right. I also thought I saw the boss peck at her, but I couldn't be sure. May went immediately into the coop. I'm going out to check on her after I write this.
Could she be eggbound? Any advice gratefully welcomed. Thanks!
ADD: She usually lays once every 2-3 days. And her eggs are huge.
ADD: Just checked her vent, no egg. Maybe just broody.

 

[Sally PB]

she is constantly emitting a steady cluck or grunt.

she was broody once last year

Did she make that noise last year when she was broody?

When my serial broody brat starts saying bup-bup-bup-bup endlessly, I know she'll be sitting on a nest with the 1000 yard broody stare in another day or two.

 

[Adolph Otto]

Did she make that noise last year when she was broody?

When my serial broody brat starts saying bup-bup-bup-bup endlessly, I know she'll be sitting on a nest with the 1000 yard broody stare in another day or two.

I can't remember if she made that noise last year, but it's a relief to hear your experience. You nailed it, "bup-bup-bup." Exactly what mine is doing. Thanks very much. Last year I just kept taking her off the nest until she came out of it. Is that what you do?

 

[Sally PB]

I use a "broody breaker." It's a small dog crate (which has many other uses), and two or three days is all it takes for me to get my broody hen to snap out of it.

This article explains how to set one up.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rates-a-good-tool-for-every-chickeneer.72619/

 

[Adolph Otto]

Are there varying levels of broodiness? This morning she was in the nest box (probably had been all night), but she didn't fuss when I took her out and placed her on the grass. She squatted for about 20 seconds, then went about scratching and pecking, although still grunting steadily.
I have an old pre-fab I could use as a jail if I took the bedding out. Should I put her in that? Or we she just nest down in there?