Is this a broody?

[LalaP]

I’ve been outta town for a week and a neighbor has been chicken sitting for me. He told me there was a hen in the nest box everyday when he stopped by but he can’t tell my 4 ladies apart so there’s no telling if it was the same one. They are 9 month old black austrolorps. Today Bertie was in the empty nest box for several hours and then she laid an egg and hopped out and sang her song. But then I was snuggling her and discovered that she’s missing a large patch of feathers (2inches by 2-3 inches) on her undercarriage. I mean the area between and around her legs. I haven’t dealt with broodiness before but from what I’ve read the bald patch would indicate broodiness but she’s too young, it’s the wrong season and she laid an egg and hopped out of the box. Could be molting but it’s the wrong season and it’s starting in the wrong spot, right? I don’t see any mites or lice. Anything I’m missing?

Also, out of curiosity, are affectionate hens more like to go broody? Bertie always wants to be loved on. Maybe a hen like that is more likely to want babies to snuggle and love?

 

[nuthatched]

I don't think it is too young. One of my australorps went broody at 8-9 months as well.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hi, when a hen is truly broody they don't want to leave the nest. They hunker way down "like a pancake," and just want to get those eggs (or golf balls) situated undr them just so. If you try to move them or reach under them to check for eggs, they fluff up their feathers and look big and scary, "scream" at you in a rising screech, and may peck at your hand, striking hard and fast like a snake, scaring you and hitting you hard enough to hurt. They will stay there pretty much day and night, just getting off the nest long enough to run and go eat, drink and let go of a big stinky poop. They may take a quick dust bath but then back to the nest they go. If you take them off the nest, they walk about in a sort of trance, clucking in a strange, rhythmic way sort of like a ticking time bomb. What I notice most about them is their eyes. They have a strange, inward focus to them as if (don't laugh!) they are deeply, profoundly constipated and have nothing else on their mind.

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

Both affectionate and flighty hens/pullets can go broody. They will go broody in winter as well. Currently have an Ayam Cemani hanging out in the nest box. Yours does sound like she’s broody.

The best broody I’ve had is an Australorp. But she’s an experienced hen. Sometimes the pullets aren’t as “skilled” as older hens. So you may want to break her of it, or keep taking eggs until she gives up.

Edit: just reread your post again. Maybe she didn’t lay the egg but yes, plucking her underside is a sign of a broody.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@nuthatched: you laughed! Lol, but do you think that's an accurate description?

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

It’s the truth

But they are technically constipated for a bit

 

[nuthatched]

@nuthatched: you laughed! Lol, but do you think that's an accurate description?

Accurate to a T!
Course I laughed! I refer to Broodies as "screaming feather duster pancakes"
When I take a Broodie out, I carry them to there far side of the run so the can get some exercise. All the while she's under my arm clucking: "well, I never! OH! Don't you dare! I've never been so insulted in all my life!"

 

[BigBlueHen53]

When I've had a broody in the summertime, they get a cool bath. They don't like it much for the first few seconds, but then they decide it feels pretty good after all. I don't put thrm in a dog crate any mire, I just keep them in the brooder/ bachelor pen where there are no nests, and give them a cool bath daily. After about 3 days they are "broke" of being broody!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Well, it's been fun but I think I am gonna call it a night. Sweet dreams, y'all!

 

[aart]

They have a strange, inward focus to them as if (don't laugh!) they are deeply, profoundly constipated and have nothing else on their mind.

Broody Trance....clenching?

These are my go-to signs of a broody:
Is she on nest most the day and all night?
When you pull her out of nest and put her on the ground, does she flatten right back out into a fluffy screeching pancake?
Does she walk around making a low cluckcluckcluckcluckcluck(ticking bomb) sound on her way back to the nest?

If so, then she is probably broody and you'll have to decide how to manage it.