Is my hen broody?????

[Leighe]

We all agree that this is the best thing for her? She is having a complete fit! I opened the kennel to put food in and she jumped up and scratched me with her powerful talons!!View attachment 1100881

Ahhhh, a woman in heat....I love how you asked "We all agree that this is the best thing for her?" Like they're all telling you this just to see what happens to you and for their own entertainment . Welcome to the world of broody chickens. They will take skin off your arm! I told my brother I was goin to start wearin welding gloves to pick up the Ameracaunas. They'll nail me even if I'm pickin up eggs in the next box. Like their head comes up and swivels 360 degrees while comin over the divider. It's so bad that I put the Ameracauna in a huge dog crate, with her eggs and nest, water and food. Two days later it was like walkin into a prison. She was bangin her dishes on the wire windows, screamin at the top of her lungs....she was even scarin the rooster. I let her out and the wicked little girl went over to the nesting box and plunked herself down in it again. Ugh! Although, I have to say when they are not broody, they are just adorable. But when they are broody and they hear me comin into the pen, they literally peek over the nesting boxes to see me comin, lol. I keep the lid on the nesting boxes open during the summer, just too hot in there. Good luck.....it really is for the best if you don't want her to hatch chicks...

 

[corky569]

I liked the above response, but I actually LOVE it. Tough love I guess, let her work it out in the kennel. She's usually such a sweet girl.

 

[Leighe]

I liked the above response, but I actually LOVE it. Tough love I guess, let her work it out in the kennel. She's usually such a sweet girl.

Yeah....its just hormones, lol

 

[maricela8492]

Yes, I have 2 hens that are doing the same thing right now lol. I do collect the eggs every day and sometimes they peck me! Lol they get over it and go back to their normal self eventually!

I've got a Barred Plymouth Rock hen that has been laying pretty steadily since the middle of June. The last few days shes been spending most of her time in the laying box. I would think that she's become broody except there are no eggs under her. She stays in there even though there are no eggs in the box. She even stays after we take the ones she has laid????? What do you guys think?

 

[aart]

We've locked her out of the coop in the daytime, she's been sitting in the nest all night. Tonight I blocked access to the nesting boxes, and the last straw was when she attacked everyone that tried to go to bed tonight. She's in the dog kennel now, off the ground, one roost. I hope this works. SHE IS PISSED!

they do get that way! Madder than a wet hen or a hormonal broody.

Best to put some smaller wire on the bottom of the crate, 1x2 works good for me,
or turn it over the top of crate is the 'bottom'...tho I've seen the fly out of that config so put the tray on top.

 

[andreanar]

LOL Yes this is the best thing for her. You can freeze a few water bottles and put them under the broody cage to try to cool off her underside faster. She will be your sweet girl again soon as she breaks. Altho, she may go broody again and again. Stay the course chicken mama, stay the course!!

 

[corky569]

Just an update. I put her in the kennel overnight on Thursday, she went right back to the nesting box on Friday morning. I left her back in the kennel until Sunday evening, she ran out, foraged until dark, and went to the coop like normal. So far, so good. She hasn't been back to the box since, and is acting normally. Should she start laying again soon? Thanks for all the great advice.

 

[aart]

Should she start laying again soon?

Maybe a week or two....or she may molt given the time of year.