Hen acting broody without eggs or babies

[Basghettiii]

My buff Orpington named Biscuit is pulling out her belly and breast feathers. She was sitting on eggs not that long ago, but we took her off of them and she hasn’t tried to start a brood since. However, she still growls and puffs up at my other chickens (and sometimes me) when they approach her. I’ve only ever seen this behavior in hens that have chicks, but she doesn’t have any. Does she think that she has babies, or is she just being hormonal?

She is very angry right now, and we just aren’t sure why. We just want to know why Biscuit is being so spicy all of a sudden. She is normally very docile around the other chickens, but she has actually started chasing the other chickens and pecking them if they get too close. I’m a little bit concerned, so I just want to know what might be going on here.

 

[GlicksChicks]

I have a Black Copper Maran who does the same thing. She wants to hatch chicks, but I am not letting her. I take the eggs twice a day so the eggs don't start incubating.

Whenever my hen is out of the nest, she is puffed up and makes tiny dinosaur noises. She pecks the other hens, like she is telling them not to mess with her eggs, even if there aren't any.

The hen is being protective of the nesting area and she still has her broody hormones going on.

 

[Basghettiii]

I have a Black Copper Maran who does the same thing. She wants to hatch chicks, but I am not letting her. I take the eggs twice a day so the eggs don't start incubating.

Whenever my hen is out of the nest, she is puffed up and makes tiny dinosaur noises. She pecks the other hens, like she is telling them not to mess with her eggs, even if there aren't any.

The hen is being protective of the nesting area and she still has her broody hormones going on.

She does it all over, so apparently every place is her nesting place haha.

 

[GlicksChicks]

She does it all over, so apparently every place is her nesting place haha.

My hen does the same thing. She is almost always puffed up when she is walking around.

She will see a hen walking toward the coop and peck her, kind of like a reminder that they better not hurt her eggs.

Your hen may also be trying to prepare her flockmates for when she has chicks (In her mind, she might still be working on hatching eggs) so she is showing them who the boss is, that they should not mess with her.

 

[Basghettiii]

My hen does the same thing. She is almost always puffed up when she is walking around.

She will see a hen walking toward the coop and peck her, kind of like a reminder that they better not hurt her eggs.

Your hen may also be trying to prepare her flockmates for when she has chicks (In her mind, she might still be working on hatching eggs) so she is showing them who the boss is, that they should not mess with her.

That makes a lot of sense! We are thinking about buying some fertilized eggs of some specific breeds and letting her hatch those out in one of our smaller coops, so she might get to be a mother soon. Thank you so much!

 

[GlicksChicks]

That makes a lot of sense! We are thinking about buying some fertilized eggs of some specific breeds and letting her hatch those out in one of our smaller coops, so she might get to be a mother soon. Thank you so much!

Of course! I love my Buff Orpingtons so much!

 

[Basghettiii]

Of course! I love my Buff Orpingtons so much!

Buffies are the best

 

[aart]

She was sitting on eggs not that long ago, but we took her off of them and she hasn’t tried to start a brood since. However, she still growls and puffs up at my other chickens (and sometimes me) when they approach her. I’ve only ever seen this behavior in hens that have chicks, but she doesn’t have any. Does she think that she has babies, or is she just being hormonal?

She's still broody.
Either break her or give her fertile eggs.

 

[wrathsfarm]

My buff Orpington named Biscuit is pulling out her belly and breast feathers. She was sitting on eggs not that long ago, but we took her off of them and she hasn’t tried to start a brood since. However, she still growls and puffs up at my other chickens (and sometimes me) when they approach her. I’ve only ever seen this behavior in hens that have chicks, but she doesn’t have any. Does she think that she has babies, or is she just being hormonal?

How long is not that long ago?
Taking eggs away from a broody for 2 weeks without breaking her and then giving her fertile eggs to sit on for 3 more weeks could have I'll effects on her health. Another option is letting her sit on eggs, monitor to see if she's committed, and slip day olds under her at her expected 21 day hatch date.

She's still broody.
Either break her or give her fertile eggs.

 

[Basghettiii]

Angry Biscuit

I think she’s going to smother me in my sleep