Hiding hens

[JenNel531]

I have 2 hens that have been hiding in a dark corner together the last 3 days and not interested in coming out. No eggs under them and they get upset if I try to move them. I’m getting pretty concerned about them.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Do you only have 2 hens?
Is your run predator proof?
How old are they?
When you say upset, can you describe upset? Broodies make upset noises amongst other things.

 

[CrazyCochin]

Do you only have 2 hens?
Is your run predator proof?
How old are they?
When you say upset, can you describe upset? Broodies make upset noises amongst other things.

Hmm, do you have pets that roam around, such as dogs?
Have you taken eggs from them? Have they been in nest boxes?

 

[CrazyCochin]

When you say upset, can you describe upset?

I agree! That might make things clearer...

 

[aart]

I have 2 hens that have been hiding in a dark corner together the last 3 days and not interested in coming out. No eggs under them and they get upset if I try to move them. I’m getting pretty concerned about them.

Might it have something to do with the broody that showed up with chicks?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/incubating-and-hatched-chicks.1429396/

 

[SulkyBantam]

When you say upset, can you describe upset? Broodies make upset noises amongst other things.

X2

 

[JenNel531]

We have 12 hens and 2 roosters. All at 9 months old.
Around the same time this began one other hen did hatch some chicks. The Mama is currently in a separate area of the coup with her chicks.
The 2 hens I’m worried about are hiding in a small 1’ x 3’ area behind the separates area as Mama and chicks. They can’t see them but might be able to hear them.
We have had an issue with a predator almost 2 months ago which did get a handful of chickens but we have not had any issues since.
We have one older dog around that they have never minded before. The chickens and dog all live peacefully together and the dog is mostly indoors.
As for upset mood, when I go to touch or see if I can grab one of the hens they make a growling noise at me and burrow deeper in the corner so I’ve left them alone. They are typically very friendly and let even our kids pet, occasionally hold, and feed from their hands. I have food and water near them but have not observed them eat or drink.

 

[JenNel531]

Might it have something to do with the broody that showed up with chicks?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/incubating-and-hatched-chicks.1429396/

It did start around the same time. I believe the hens starting hiding the day before the chicks showed up. The Mama that had the chicks was a complete surprise. She went missing about a month ago and we thought a predator got her. Afterwards we found her nest not far from the house in a small rock cave.

 

[JenNel531]

X2

I was wondering about being broody but they don’t have any eggs under them and haven’t seen any from either since the behavior change. Is it also strange that they are hiding as a pair?

 

[SulkyBantam]

The pair bit is strange, but they will often brood over 0 eggs. Do they growl and fluff?