How do you tell if a hen is going broody?

[gwendalynn28]

Hi,
This is my second summer having chickens and I have a hen that is sitting in her nest. She doesn't have any eggs under her but I reached in to touch her and she got up and left for a few seconds while I scattered some meal worms for everyone but promptly went back to her nest. My question is, how do you tell if you have a broody hen? I've never had a broody hen before. I've read what others have posted about this condition but I've never seen it in my birds. My hen is some sort of Easter Egger mix perhaps. She was given to me by a friend so I'm not exactly sure of her origins or exact breed. She lays blue eggs and has bluish legs. If anyone can help me with identifying a broody hen, please let me know! Thanks!

Here is a picture of my hen! This was taken last summer! Her name is Hawk Girl!

 

[SIMZ]

I'm no expert, but we just had a broody hatch six chicks yesterday! (SO CUTE!!)

Anyway, I thought I had a chickens that were broody because they'd peck at me when I tried to get eggs from them. Or because they sat in the nest box a lot.

Two chickens in our flock went actually broody this year and here's the difference: each time I thought they were sick. They wouldn't get out of the nest box until I pulled them out. There were feathers everywhere. They were bald underneath from plucking their own feathers. They acted like they couldn't walk once out of the box. They ran around very puffy, sqwuaking, and acting strange/sick.

In short, they kind of creeped me out with their behavior. I asked on here and found out THAT's what broody is.

 

[Andrewdp123]

My first broody hatched 3 about a week ago...She just kept sitting in her box sqwauking at me until finally i decided i'd leave her alone...She ended up with about 9 eggs of all different colors by the end.

 

[gwendalynn28]

I'll check on her in the morning and see if she's still hanging out on the nest! She hasn't pulled any feathers as far as I can tell. I was worried about her today because she didn't come out at treat time and she ALWAYS comes out at treat time. She looks fine and healthy. I was concerned because she didn't want to come out of her nest box. I guess if she stays there and starts pulling out feathers then I'll know that she's going broody! I'll keep you updated!