My hen won't leave the nesting box

Tarcy_05

In the Brooder
Jul 18, 2025
4
17
21
One of my hens, approximately 18-month-old Speckled Sussex, has been very reluctant to leave the nesting box since the afternoon/evening of 7/15. At first I thought she was broody since I've found her sitting on eggs everyday, refusing to move voluntarily, but I also noticed she was losing feathers. I know molting takes a lot of energy, and requires lots of protein, so I've been mixing Pecking Order 5 Grain Scratch into her 16% pellet feed, which I've been providing separately from the other hens. I'm also giving her a separate dish of water. She's not eating much, and she's drinking even less. Her comb and wattle are still bright red and look good, but she's not acting like herself.

Yesterday, I noticed she had green poop that was a little watery. Yesterday was the first time green poop has appeared: one regular amount and one small amount that was firmer.

When the other hens come around her in the nesting box, she puffs up, sticks her tail feathers in the air, lowers/recedes her head, and clucks at them as if to say, "Leave me alone!" in her sweet, quiet "hoarse" way (she's always sounded like this - so does her sister).

I have to force her out of the nesting box. When I do, she'll perch for a bit, walk around, scratch a little, etc., but she won't leave the enclosed area (I let my hens out to free range for a few hours each day). She almost left the enclosed area yesterday. She stood at the door with one foot on the threshold, thought about it, and turned and went right back into the coop.

She's walking fine when I force her out of the nesting box. She hopped on top of the coop yesterday where she rubbed her beak onto the asphalt roof a few times, walked around, fluttered and perched in various spots, and nibbled on her food a bit out of my hand only to hop back inside. She even took a short dirt bath, as I had the privilege of getting dusted right in the face when she shook off the excess.

Is she broody AND molting? Do I need to deworm her and the other hens? I'm at a loss as to what to do for her. I'm including pictures of the small bit of poop from yesterday. And, yes, I "played in it" with a stick after placing it on paper.

Thank you for any help/advice you can offer!
 

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Sounds like you have a broody hen.
That's my hope. However, I just inspected her and found her chest to be bare. I also witnessed her pluck a feather from her breast area. I know broody hens will sometimes pluck feathers from the breast to increase body heat for the eggs, but I also saw some fleas around some droppings in the neighboring nesting box. 😭

I inspected her neck and underneath her wings, and there are no signs of fleas or mites. She was angry with me, so I put her down. However, I'll go back out in a bit to inspect her vent.

I've added a picture of her. She looks pitiful. 🥺

Edit to add that I inspected the inside of her mouth, and it looked good. I also added another picture to include her legs/feet.
 

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Plucking is a sign of broodiness. So is the anger! Do you want her to hatch eggs? A broody hen will typically get off the nest at least once a day to eat, drink, drop a huge poop and dust bathe. We generally consider them "committed" if they sleep on the nest two or three nights in a row. After that you should either give her fertile eggs to hatch or attempt to "break" her of her broodiness. Which do you want to do?
 
I also saw some fleas around some droppings in the neighboring nesting box. 😭

I inspected her neck and underneath her wings, and there are no signs of fleas or mites. She was angry with me, so I put her down. However, I'll go back out in a bit to inspect her vent.
A couple of items on your plate. Do you have a pest problem in the coop? Check some of the other birds and nest boxes for pests.

You will want to remove any droppings from nest boxes. It will help keep eggs cleaner and help with flies.

As you don't want to hatch, you will need to break her of it.
 

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