Hen won't leave nest box, not sitting on eggs acting strangely help!!

[lovetocook]

My 15 mo. old Buff Orp "Fancy Pants" has been sitting in her nest box for 4 days. If anyone goes near her or touches her she gives a low growl, puffs herself up and sticks her butt in the air.She did not seem to be getting out to eat or drink. She has not been laying so I thought she might be egg bound. Brought her in gave her a warm bath & kept her in the house for 24 hours. Checked her all over, didn't see any signs of mites etc. but did notice that she is missing a lot of her soft downy under feathers on her bottom side. She was eating okay so I put her back with her "sisters." She went right back to the nest box & won't come out unless we physically remove her. She will free range as long as we keep the pop door closed so she can't get back into the coop but once that door is reopened she makes a beeline for the nest box
She is fed an organic layer feed, treats of sunflower seeds, oats & yogurt. Her water always has org. ACV & garlic in it. I have five other hens all the same age, no roosters, no one else is exhibiting any strange symptoms.
I have no experience with a sick chicken, what could be up with her??

 

[Chickengal505]

HAHAHAHAHAHA Dear she's broody!!!

she's trying to hach some chickies for you! Try popping some eggs under her she might hach them! And the missing of the downy feather's is called a broody patch! She Pulls her feathers out to keep the "eggs" warm aganst her hot belly... She puffs up like that because she's protecting her "eggs"

Oh and if you dont want to hatch sput her in a well ventalated cage with a fan under it this calms the fever they run when they go broody and no worrys she's Fine!!! Are you kinnda knew here?

 

[lovetocook]

Thank you, I thought that might be the case but since I have no roosters & she hasn't been laying I did not know she could go broody. These are my first chickens & this is my first broody experience. How long could this go on if I don't find her some eggs to hatch??

 

[Chickengal505]

It will last untill her body tells her the eggs are duds or chicks are running around! now one way to please her is to wait for about a week or so and then put some day old chicks under AT NIGHT not when she can see you putting them in! Another way to please is to put duds under her and let her figure it out! Oh but i would go with buying day olds to pop under her is a good exuse to get more chickens!!!

 

[lovetocook]

Chickengal I LOVE YOU & it is just the excuse I need to give my husband to let me have more chicks!!!

:

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I have one BO that always goes broody and poor girl doesn't know she hasn't been with a roo. They'll even do it if there aren't any eggs to brood.