how do you know a chicken is broody? when...

[the Pollo Loco]

so how do you know a chicken is broody, when you have a rollout tray? does she just sit on nothing? what other symptoms do you look for?

 

[Illia]

She'll sit in the nest or whatever good place that would act as a nest and not budge from there, even at night, unless she needs to take a really quick bite to eat or drink.

She'll fluff up if touched and may make weird sounds.

 

[City Chicken Lady]

Do hens get broody when there is no rooster around? Is it just a natural thing for some to get broody?

 

[gryeyes]

Broodiness has nothing to do with a rooster. The hens don't know or care if the eggs are fertilized or not; some hens will brood the faux egg/golf ball or a rock... I've read of one which brooded a small Tupperware container!

Totally hormonal with each individual pullet or hen. Well, hormonal with genetics involved, if she comes from a line of broody hens.

 

[City Chicken Lady]

Quote:
Thanks. Since I'm new to all this I'm storing all this new found information for future reference.

 

[ruby]

I have had chickens all my life seen many different types of broodiness. But for the first time I had a broody Silkie! wow..... and I have had a broody mutt chicken give me lots of grief, with no rooster.

 

[City Chicken Lady]

Quote:
I have so much to learn! You live near Auburn? You are my closest chicken neighbor so far on BYC!

 

[kingdr85]

She will puff up her feathers and make a loud "growl" noise and in some cases even peck at you if you try to move her.