My hen seems to be isolating herself

[alaskangirls]

I have a small flock of 5 hens. They are about 1 year old. In the last couple days I have noticed one hen spending the majority of her time laying in a nesting box. If i bring her out to grass she is happy to peck away at treats, but every few minutes she puffs up and makes a bunch of noise. I just went out to check on her and she is sleeping a few feet away from the rest of her sisters. Looking for advice from chicken owners with more experience than myself. Thanks in advance!

 

[Ravynscroft]

Sounds like your hen wants to be a mommy!

When hens go broody, meaning they decide to sit on eggs to hatch them, they usually stay on them in the nest box and only come out for quick trips of food, water and to poop... they puff up and get growly as it is part of protecting their eggs/chicks...

 

[alaskangirls]

Interesting! I was actually wondering if she was waiting for those eggs to actually hatch. Is there something I should do, or just leave her be with her "babies"?

 

[campbell5]

Our broody gen just had her three chicks hatch this week. But while she was brooding, I just left her alone and checked on her every day to make sure she was doing well.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Interesting!  I was actually wondering if she was waiting for those eggs to actually hatch.  Is there something I should do, or just leave her be with her "babies"?

If you don't have fertile eggs for her to hatch, or don't want to get any for her, then I'd take her outside anytime you can... some hens may come out of that mode on their own if they don't have eggs but some may try to sit until 'something' hatches... sitting too long without hatching chicks will just wear her out for no reason... and broody hens don't lay during that time either...
A way to 'break' a broody is to put her in an elevated wire bottomed cage for a few days (lets cool air under her bottom) to snap her out of it...

 

[aart]

I have a small flock of 5 hens. They are about 1 year old. In the last couple days I have noticed one hen spending the majority of her time laying in a nesting box. If i bring her out to grass she is happy to peck away at treats, but every few minutes she puffs up and makes a bunch of noise. I just went out to check on her and she is sleeping a few feet away from the rest of her sisters. Looking for advice from chicken owners with more experience than myself. Thanks in advance!

A hen that stay on the nest for several day and and nights, who growls and puffs up and flattens out and hisses and bites, would be said to be broody.
One who sits on the ground away from the flock could be sick.