Is she broody???

[dnx717]

I have a flock of nine with various breeds. One of my barred rocks is head hen. My two barred Hollands are bottom of the totem pole. They have been an INCREDIBLY peaceful flock until 3 days ago. I went out in the evening to check on them and saw one of my Hollands in the nesting box. I thought it odd. As soon as I removed her the head hen came down and started towering over the holland and pecking her neck and comb.

Next morning holland is back in the nest. I took her out, put her in the run with the rest of the flock and she started getting harassed again by head hen. She ran back to the nest.

I've had no eggs out of her for four days now and she spends a lot of time in the nesting box. I think she is broody but when I have her away from the rest of the flock she seems perfectly fine. I've been putting her on the roost at night, come out first thing in the morning and find her back in a nesting box. I keep her secluded from the rest of the flock in an area with no bedding or nesting areas. I do this solely bc the other hens aren't letting her get feed and water and it is 100+ in the Phoenix valley this time of year.

I've read about the broody buster some people have and I guess I can try it but I wanted to see if this is broody behavior or is she is just running to the nest to escape general harassment.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[laceychicken]

We went through this recently with a Barred Plymouth Rock. She was constantly on the nest and seemed to be getting dehydrated....her comb did not look good. She sat on fake eggs, other hens' eggs and her own.... Even an empty nest. So after a week of this, I put her with four I had separated from the others because of loss of feathers from picking by some of the aggressive hens. It took two weeks of daily separation and she is finally over it and back with the main flock and acting normal. Just broody I am sure.

 

[dnx717]

Thanks for the advice. The other holland seems to be her best friend. I was thinking today that I maybe should put them together so she isn't lonely. I know they are social. I put her back with the flock just before sunset so she isn't forgotten. I know she still gets harassed some but at least it is only a for a short spell each day instead of continually.