Hanger-on broody hen???

[ralleia]

I have two black australorps who have gone broody. Last night I tried unsuccessfully to move them to private quarters--they busted out of my makeshift arrangements and are now back on nestboxes--will try again today.

The question I have relates to a THIRD black australorp. This one is often very often found hunkered down on the nestbox perch just outside the box occupied by one of the broodies. When I approach, she fluffs up her feathers and growls just like the two broodies do.

What *IS* she doing???

Is she trying to get broody, too? Is she BFFs with the hen in the nestbox? What's going on here?

These broodies will be the end of me!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Sounds like she's thinking about it.

 

[ralleia]

A few years back, a black australorp hen that hadn't gone broody "chicknapped" a baby chick from one of the two mommas that had been sitting, then proceeded to rear her instant offspring.

Maybe it's the same hen, and she doesn't *quite* have the the full trait for broodiness. She's just waiting for a chance to kidnap a new chick. I'll name her "Maysie" after the bird in Horton Hatches the Egg...