OE broody or something else?

[Silviaschicks]

Hi,
I’m not sure if my sapphire OE Is broody or not. She plucked her feathers from her belly and legs, and she’s been more aggressive to our other girls, and her laying cycle has slowed; but she only sometimes spends extra time in the laying box, and she’s stopped puffing up and growling when I come near her. Anyone know what’s going on? Thanks in advance!

 

[Alex S]

Hi,
I’m not sure if my sapphire OE Is broody or not. She plucked her feathers from her belly and legs, and she’s been more aggressive to our other girls, and her laying cycle has slowed; but she only sometimes spends extra time in the laying box, and she’s stopped puffing up and growling when I come near her. Anyone know what’s going on? Thanks in advance!

How old is she? She may be broody or just sleeping in the nesting boxes. What does she do when you try to shoo it away? I'm new to chicken keeping so I might not know all the answers

 

[Alex S]

Also it may take some time for the hen to commit to bring broody

 

[aart]

Never heard of a broody plucking her legs.
She may be 'thinking' about going broody, but not made the full commitment.

 

[Silviaschicks]

She's a year. She also falls asleep really often, and has layed a bunch of softies... maybe she's sick?

 

[aart]

What all and how exactly are you feeding?

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

This is what I do when I have a bird acting 'off':
I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor:
-their intake of food and water,
-crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed),
-and their poops.
Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.
Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[Silviaschicks]

It's very hot and dry where I am, but cool in the morning. my OE gets hot really fast, she hates the summer here.