Hen picking on other hens

[rqh]

I have what I think is probably a silly question but I am still fairly new at this chicken buisness (bought my fist chicks spring of 08).

I have a barred rock hen (little over yr old) that in the last couple weeks has started sitting in the nest all day. We do not have a rooster (as far as I know of we do have 12 wk old chicks).
My other hens have quit laying in the nests. Last night I noticed when I went to lock them in that she was taking after all the other chickens and biting at them. Is this a typical behavior and what causes it? Will she get over it?

Thanks in advance for any information you can give me.

 

[DTchickens]

She is broody... Broody hens will chase, and attack. Roosters, hens, people sometimes, dogs, cats, and pretty much anything else that poses a threat to their babies, you can either break it or get her fertile eggs to hatch.

 

[rqh]

Thanks, that is what I was guessing. I just didn't know if it was possible. She isn't even sitting on anything and there is not rooster ( but an hoping there is one in my new bunch of chicks).

 

[Judy]

Broodiness is caused by her hormones; nothing to do with a rooster.

It would probably be best to try to break her if you aren't going to get some fertile eggs or wait a couple of weeks and slip some chicks under her.


http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html