This is my first year with multiple chickens, in fact my first year with laying hens. One of my Cochin Hens has recently decided to take permanent residence in one of the nesting boxes. She's been in there since last wednesday. I think (from what I've read) that she is being 'broody' as she almost refuses to come out and if you take her out she jumps right back in there. The confusion I'm having is that she is not laying or setting any eggs. She just wants to be in that box and when you go in to check her she puffs all her feathers up and make this funny chirping noise almost like a racoon. My biggest concern is that she has lost almost all of her belly feathers and is starting to get raw spots on her skin. There is plenty of nesting straw. This is probably my favorite chicken as she always has come to me in the past and usually likes to sit on my shoulder like a parrot. She never minded being handled up until she got this way. I don't see any sign of disease but definitely a peculiar behavior. Any ideas?
