I believe I have a broody hen. Not sure

[LBC CHICKEN CAPT.]

Hi, I’m hoping to get a bit of advice. After reading about hens acting broody I believe my silver Wyandotte is acting broody. I noticed last night she slept in the nesting box. This morning she came out to eat and drink and went right back to the same nesting box. I have 4 hens and she is the only one acting like this. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you!!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

It sure sounds like she is broody. There are a lot of signs that a hen might be broody. she can be defensive of her nest against you or other chickens, but I've had hens just laying eggs act that way. They normally spend a lot of time on the nest during the day though they might come off a time or two to eat, drink, and poop. When they are off they usually walk around all puffed up and making a constant bokking sound. I've had hens do all these things and not really be broody enough to give eggs to. My test is if a hen spend two consecutive nights in the nest instead of in her normal roosting spot she is truly broody.

 

[aart]

Now you'll have to decide if you want her to hatch out some chicks, and how you will 'manage' it.
Do you have, or can you get, some fertile eggs?
Do you have the space needed? She may need to be separated by wire from the rest of the flock.
Do you have a plan on what to do with the inevitable males? Rehome, butcher, keep in separate 'bachelor pad'?
If you decide to let her hatch out some fertile eggs, this is a great thread for reference and to ask questions.
It a long one but just start reading the first few pages, then browse thru some more at random.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/496101/broody-hen-thread


If you don't want her to hatch out chicks, best to break her broodiness promptly.
My experience went like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest, I put her in a wire dog crate with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop with fed and water

I let her out a couple times a day(you don't have to) and she would go out into the run, drop a huge turd, race around running, take a vigorous dust bath then head back to the nest... at which point I put her back in the crate. Each time her outings would lengthen a bit, eating, drinking and scratching more and on the 3rd afternoon she stayed out of the nest and went to roost that evening...event over, back to normal tho she didn't lay for another week or two. Or take her out of crate daily very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate.
Feed and water added after pic was taken



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[TheTwoRoos]

Is he acting aggressive?If not still do any mean she isn’t.

 

[Abriana]

Sounds like a broody to me! Since you have such a small flock, why not purchase or get a couple fertile eggs from a neighbor with a rooster and hatch? Hatching is an amazing experience. I’m working on my fifth under a broody hatch. I have an insanely broody Dutch bantam.