Puffing up feathers- update- Broody- Now what?

[kittykorat]

I have this one hen that puffs up her feathers if you come near her in the nest box.
She also makes a weird chittering noise as if she is saying "leave me alone!" The other hens don't do this...?
She hangs out in the nest box a long time too...
I almost think she is trying to go broody, but she does eventually lay her egg and get out of the box. I collect frequently, so there is nothing to brood on...
So is this puffy feather thing a normal thing?

Update 5/10- after a week of this puffed up feathers and chittering at me, Now she is definetely broody. Has been on the box for the last 24hrs, and won't let me take the eggs...

 

[gryeyes]

She WANTS to be a mom. If you left the eggs, she might incubate them. However, she might not. You have to see if she will stay on the eggs overnight, instead of going to roost.

There are others on the forum who are much more experienced with broody hens than am I; none of mine have gone broody (yet). I only have one breed that is listed as "occasionally broody."

 

[kittykorat]

She didn't stay in the box. I went back out an hour later, and she was out in the run, and her egg and two others were in the box.. so not broody.
Why does she puff up like that?

 

[teach1rusl]

Ohhhh...whether she stays in the box or not, that's trademark broody behavior. Maybe the hormones are kicking in, but not in full force. My BO has begun doing that fairly often recently, so I'm hoping it DOESN'T kick in for her, as I don't want chicks and already have a broody GLW sitting on NOTHING...lol...which means I'm six eggs down each week.

 

[sourland]

She's getting ready to go broody. It's just a mater of time, and not too very long at that.

 

[kittykorat]

She's an 8 month old EE.

We do not have a roo.
If she does go broody I can let her brood on non-fertile eggs...and then get chicks...?

 

[easttxchick]

No-if you don't have a roo the eggs will not be fertile. Therefore, no chicks.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

Look at her eyes in the pic. She even has the broody trance going on. Keep in mind that some hens don't like to be bothered when laying. I had some RIR's that would eat you up if you stuck your hand if front of them while they were laying.

 

[kittykorat]

Quote:
No I meant get chicks at the farm store and switch them. I know non-fertile eggs won't hatch.

And she's not being mean.. if I reach in to pet her she chitters, but doesn't try to peck me.

 

[teach1rusl]

Some have tried that with success, by waiting until close to the 21st day of nest sitting to do the switch. Make sure she for sure goes full force broody for you...sitting all the time. But be prepared if she doesn't accept them to have a brooder and all supplies handy. Yeah...my broody girl will growl at me, but she lets me pet her and never pecks either...I do feed her treats and put her off the nest every day to make sure she eats, drinks, and poops.