Hens acting weird before laying an egg

[Beau plus penny]

so ive had this happen a lot recently i have specific hens that will exhibit broody behavior when they go to lay and egg like they will sit on top of the eggs and push them under her and growl at me if i get close but once they lay the egg that just get up and leave the nest until the next day when its time to lay again

 

[sourland]

In my experience, this is not an unusual behavior.

 

[Beau plus penny]

In my experience, this is not an unusual behavior.

it just confuses me bc how am i gonna know if someone is actually broody

 

[sourland]

it just confuses me bc how am i gonna know if someone is actually broody

They will stay on the nest overnight.

 

[Pukkits]

it just confuses me bc how am i gonna know if someone is actually broody

Because she won't leave the nest, almost at all. A broody will run out and eat and drink fast, then return to the nest. Hopefully she will leave to poop outside the nest. And that's it. She won't even roost on a bar at night, she will sleep on the eggs.

If you are in the northern hemisphere you are less likely to see broody behavior starting now, in the southern hemisphere it's just starting. Chickens in the northern hemisphere are starting to see shorter, cooler days and it's less ideal for raising chicks, so they are less likely to start brooding. Most breeds of chickens in the northern hemisphere will stop laying eggs in the next few weeks as they get ready for autumn molting and a winter egg laying break. If you want a broody hen, you are more likely to see that behavior starting in the spring. There are exceptions to common behavior patterns, but for most chickens this is the norm.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Also, I do not consider a hen truly broody until they stay on the nest three days and nights. They may fluff themselves up and look all big and scary if you put your hand in the nest to check for eggs under them (a non-broody will usually scream, jump up and run away), growl like you said, sit tight and peck at you.