Postpartum in Chickens? Hen Noisy and a Loner After Raising Chicks

[billygoat162]

It might be worth mentioning that I had a Buff Orpington go broody at the same time and raise chicks in a separate cage just next to her (they could see each other but not peck), and the BO was a much more protective mom and has been picking on the Welsummer ever since it went near her chicks when I let them all out. The BO isn't sleeping with her chicks anymore, but still chases off the wellie if it gets too close. Maybe the Welsummer is anxious because of this?

 

[azygous]

It's possible her body is beginning to produce broody hormones again. You may have a serial broody.

My Sussex Linda that I just mentioned is one of these. Every year since she began laying, she has gone broody four times between spring and fall. (This only varies if I let her incubate eggs and brood chicks.) She's so predictable I can count exactly forty days between the time she lays her first egg and the day she starts sitting a nest again.

This interval may be different for each broody, but you should be able to keep tract of when yours will go broody by recording when she begins laying and when she becomes fully broody again.

It can take a few weeks from the time a hen starts "acting" broody until she becomes broody for real. You'll find out if this is what's going on. Having a predictable broody is extremely convenient and useful.