- Mar 9, 2009
- 299
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I don't know what to do for my poor crazy hen. I'm wondering if hens can have hormonal imbalances.
First, she seems to have the chicken version of hysterical pregnancy that continues to where a woman will convince herself she had a baby and push around an empty carriage. Several month ago she sat on eggs for about 8 days, then abandoned the clutch. Now, she calls over her non- existent chicks to the feed pile, waiting for them to eat just as the hens with chicks do. She even tries to take over other hens' chicks. We have tried to let her brood, but she will only sit on eggs for about 4 hours before she gives up.
She has developed another strange habit. While the other hens dodge the roosters, she struts back and forth in front of them until they jump her. Then she goes to the next rooster and repeats the strut until he mates her as well.
I doubt there's anything I can do for her, but it seems like a pretty unhappy existence to yearn for chicks but not have a clue how to do it. Has anyone ever seen anything like this before?
Laura
First, she seems to have the chicken version of hysterical pregnancy that continues to where a woman will convince herself she had a baby and push around an empty carriage. Several month ago she sat on eggs for about 8 days, then abandoned the clutch. Now, she calls over her non- existent chicks to the feed pile, waiting for them to eat just as the hens with chicks do. She even tries to take over other hens' chicks. We have tried to let her brood, but she will only sit on eggs for about 4 hours before she gives up.
She has developed another strange habit. While the other hens dodge the roosters, she struts back and forth in front of them until they jump her. Then she goes to the next rooster and repeats the strut until he mates her as well.
I doubt there's anything I can do for her, but it seems like a pretty unhappy existence to yearn for chicks but not have a clue how to do it. Has anyone ever seen anything like this before?
Laura
