i somehow acquired 2 runaways and i have questions. please help

[Mother of Chaos]

ok. i know we have been through this before
but i am a slow learner.

how do i know if it's broodyism or not?

she went in the coop at 7:30 this morning. thelma was hanging out in the run for awhile by herself. it was very windy and rainy.
then thelma joined louise in the coop.
thelma, as you know, can take forever to lay an egg.

after a few hours i took them both out of the nesting boxes and i took the fake eggs out.
louise was annoyed but she went out into the yard.
thelma started with the crazy time. she was trying to find someplace else to go.

she did not do that when she was broody. she wanted back in the same spot.
so i gave her her fake egg back.
maybe she really needs to lay an egg.

i did not give louise a fake egg.
she had stayed out longer than thelma but went back in and is now sitting in the middle of the coop on nothing.

neither look like they did when they were in the broody trance.

thelma is growling and puffing up her neck feathers but louise is not. and neither are flat pancakes like before either.

i ordered an automatic door that i am so excited about and it was delivered today. so of course they are both in there.

sorry for such a long description, but i want to nip it in the bud if it's broodyism. and if eggs need to be laid, i don't want to disturb.
should i give thelma more time and take louise out? take both out? let them both have more time?

see. if i had a manual, i wouldn't be here bugging all of you all the time!

Early days, maybe? Fluff of Rage, but not yet pancaking, etc.

We now have our first early broody, and I’m learning right along with you.

 

[pollipazzi]

Over time you get to learn the signs in each individual hen. But often I don’t know until someone is missing at roost time and I go frantically looking for them only to find them all tucked up in a nest box.

i think louise's sign is extra B.
not that's she's not normally a B but EXTRA.

 

[pollipazzi]

Early days, maybe? Fluff of Rage, but not yet pancaking, etc.

We now have our first early broody, and I’m learning right along with you.

good luck! it's definitely a challenge!
it's so soon after the last time that i don't think it's a good idea at all. especially since thelma will probably follow instead of being alone.
but she did come out after she laid her egg and didn't go back in. and as long as i was out there with her, she was happy out digging around. she's in the run now. louise in the coop. like she's just hanging out! by herself! my little thelma might be growing up

 

[pollipazzi]

Early days, maybe? Fluff of Rage, but not yet pancaking, etc.

We now have our first early broody, and I’m learning right along with you.

i meant to ask... will you let her hatch any eggs? or that's a no.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

i think louise's sign is extra B.
not that's she's not normally a B but EXTRA.

Trudy the Broody tried to prevent her flock sister from using the other nesting box. I pulled her out and put her on the run floor, and Buffy laid in four minutes. She didn’t even have time to turn around and get settled - it rolled right out on the coop floor! (2 inches lower)

 

[Mother of Chaos]

i meant to ask... will you let her hatch any eggs? or that's a no.

No, we don’t have a roo, and we can’t have over 7 chickens. And I don’t think she would be a very good brooder, or mom, for that matter. She’s so tightly wired.

 

[pollipazzi]

Trudy the Broody tried to prevent her flock sister from using the other nesting box. I pulled her out and put her on the run floor, and Buffy laid in four minutes. She didn’t even have time to turn around and get settled - it rolled right out on the coop floor! (2 inches lower)

oh no! lol! poor buffy!
i have to say this out loud because seriously. what!?
my husband was out by the run with me and he was calling louise trudy the broody. and i said that would make a great chicken name!
swear! like an hour ago!

also. louise was so desperate to go back in, she was walking all around my husband trying to get past him while he was measuring for the new door. normally she would stay well clear of the scary man. she was practically pushing her way through

she's in for a rude awakening tomorrow when we take the coop apart to put the door on.

 

[pollipazzi]

No, we don’t have a roo, and we can’t have over 7 chickens. And I don’t think she would be a very good brooder, or mom, for that matter. She’s so tightly wired.

i get that.
i get that a lot!

 

[pollipazzi]

you guys! it's almost 8pm and thelma is STILL hanging out in the run all by herself! and she's not crying or anything!

either she's growing up, or she's relieved to be able to hang out without getting beat up