Hen wants to be a mama w/ out going broody

[TheSpiceGirls]

Is that even possible?

I have four adults and one is currently raising three chicks. Last night I went out to dole out some meal worms and I like to give one to each hen so know that everyone gets one. One adult (who I didn't think had a mothering instinct in her anywhere) would pick up the worm, drop it, pick it up, drop it, and as hard as I tried to deflect the other hens, another hen or even one of the babies eventually got it.

We did this three times before I picked her up and set her inside the coop and gave her a worm all to herself. And that's when I heard it. She was dropping it and making the soft chuck-chuck-chuck sound like a mama makes to call her babies to food.

She's been molting for three months now and hasn't laid during that whole time so she's definitely not broody. But I'm thinking she likes what she sees in my mama hen and that she might want to be a mama some day.

I don't think I would have picked up on this behavior if I didn't have just the few hens and spend so much time w/ them. Anyone else ever experience this?

I'd love to let her be a mama. But now really isn't a good time. I'm hoping she can hold onto that thought till spring when for sure, I will get her babies to raise.

 

[aoxa]

Hmm.. I have seen this behaviour only in full on broodies and roosters.. :/ She might be on the verge of going broody. Mine cluck for a few days before setting.

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

Certainly a possibility. She's molting and does the S-L-O-W molt one feather at a time. So she's been at it for three months. I didn't think she'd go broody while molting and certainly while not laying eggs.

I did catch her taking a dust bath with one of the babies yesterday which I thought was odd. But maybe she's just testing out this motherhood thing.

I'm really hoping she goes broody in the spring next year and I'll get her some chicks to raise. Just love watching a mama and her babies. So sweet.

 

[aoxa]

Certainly a possibility.  She's molting and does the S-L-O-W molt one feather at a time.  So she's been at it for three months.  I didn't think she'd go broody while molting and certainly while not laying eggs.

I did catch her taking a dust bath with one of the babies yesterday which I thought was odd.  But maybe she's just testing out this motherhood thing.

I'm really hoping she goes broody in the spring next year and I'll get her some chicks to raise.  Just love watching a mama and her babies.  So sweet.

If it helps any, I've had two hens molt while being broody. Not sure if that makes any difference to your situation :/

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

No, doesn't really matter. I'm just not ready to have two sets of mama's and chicks at the same time.

I have 3 Blue Andalusian's and I'm really nervous about whether or not they are going to work out with my flock. I'm in the city limits and want calm, quiet birds and you never know with Andalusians. So I want to raise them up and get them laying and see how they do. If they aren't too noisy, I'll keep them. If they are noisy, then I'll sell them and buy a quieter breed.

 

[aoxa]

No, doesn't really matter.  I'm just not ready to have two sets of mama's and chicks at the same time.

I have 3 Blue Andalusian's and I'm really nervous about whether or not they are going to work out with my flock.  I'm in the city limits and want calm, quiet birds and you never know with Andalusians.  So I want to raise them up and get them laying and see how they do.  If they aren't too noisy, I'll keep them.  If they are noisy, then I'll sell them and buy a quieter breed.

Quiet hmm? Cochins are the quietest breed I own. EEs are the loudest I own.

At least for the time being Coco (it's CoCo in question right?) is being nice to them. I find cochins very similar to orps in terms of personality, egg laying, broodiness, friendliness, etc. If you are ever looking for something new. Orps have cochin blood in them