I have a crazy hen

[Botsford Family]

okay so I have this bantam hen it is in the coop with 3 others one who is her own size and 2 Rhode Island cross. I moved them in with the others last fall and they have been great ever since no behavior problems whatsoever then all the sudden about 2 months ago she started hiding in the coop and then didn't come out and stopped laying eggs. Then what happen is when we would take her out she would start calling like crazy and the puff herself up real big with her wings almost like a defensive stance. then when she would get over and catch up with others they would start attacking each other and then the next minute she would be fine. My concern is I have new chicks I'm going to add to the flock soon and I'm wondering what I should do about this crazy hen cuz I'm afraid she might take out the little ones. and also she's never had a problem with the other 1's I'm wondering if something happened to spark the behavior change.

Any advice on how to resolve this would be greatly appreciated

 

[chooks4life]

lol. Sounds like she laid her clutch, went broody, and it's all useless because you've not left her clutch for her to brood. But she's still in the hormonal state.

This doesn't mean she will mother the chicks, that could be a risk, she wanted her own chicks and was working on getting them. In future she may be a good mother, you never know till you test them though no matter how they behave, they can fail or turn on the chicks at any stage.

Anyway, if she's already walking around normally she may be fine and will break out of it of her own accord, but if she's still brooding you need to put her in a cage where she can't brood and give her 2 days to break out of it, generally speaking. Chances are she will try again immediately to build a clutch and brood it, I know my banty hens will not be deterred.

Best wishes.