Recent change in behavior

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meljduke

meljduke

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I have a chicken that showed up in my yard about a month ago. I have no idea where she came from since I live in a subdivision and I do not think anyone has chickens due to city ordinances.

We have been feeding and watering her everyday and she is laying eggs. At night she flies up in the pine trees to roost and just wanders around the yard during the day. She made a nest under some old truck gas tanks that are up against a wood pile in the backyard and goes there to lay her eggs each day.

Three days ago she would not get off the nest and is staying there all night. I have been worried about her change in behavior and concerned that a predator might get her. I tried to get her off the nest today and she was very aggressive with me. I do not know anything about chickens, but I have enjoyed having her around. As far as I know, she hasn't come off the nest much at all even to eat. I am afraid she will die back there! Any suggestions on what is wrong with her or what I should do?? I do not want to be attacked by a chicken.

Thank you for any advice!
 
Well, sounds like your visitor is broody and wants to sit on her eggs until they either hatch or she gets sick of waiting. Since you have no way to know if she's been with a rooster, you also don't know if the eggs are fertile. They don't care when they go broody - they'll sit on a wooden egg until they get splinters in their hineys but won't get up. Growling, puffing up, and pecking at your hand if you reach toward her nest is her way of saying, "Back off, buddy - I'm in labor!" Chances of her coming off that nest at you are pretty slim - they usually only get testy if you reach in at them. And they seldom leave the nest to eat, drink or poop once they get serious about brooding.

I'd be wondering too about whether you'll find yourself in hot water for "having a chicken" if your ordinances prohibit it, but that's kinda your call to make. If she's decided your property is home, that's the way she's gonna keep it.
 
I put a small dog kennel out for her to go in, but I think she likes the spot she made and will not relocate. Is it OK for her to be alone? I've read other comments that you should never have just one chicken, but I am not intending on getting another one for her. Like I said, she picked my yard to be her new home :) I am afraid she is depressed and lonely.
 
When they are broody they don't care about buddies or companionship. They concentrate on hatching their eggs. It becomes an obsession . I would worry about predators getting to her. I think the only safe time for you to move her is when it is dark. Chickens don't like to move in the dark. If you think she would bite you, throw a towel over her and gather her up with her wings against her body, I would put her in the dog kennel you mentioned if it is big enough and put water and food near her.

Count 21 days from when she made her nest and stayed on the eggs. They would hatch about then or a couple days longer. I mention that because if she stays on the nest much longer with no hatching, her eggs are probably duds and will not hatch. Broodies will continue to sit even as their health declines.

If they don't hatch post again and someone will tell you how to break her of broodiness, so she can get back her health and energy.
 
I have collected all of her eggs except one that she laid yesterday or today. I really have no idea how long she may have been hiding out in my backyard, but I do know she has been there since March 29th at least, that was the first day I saw her. It took 2 weeks to find her nest and it had 8 eggs in it. I've been able to collect the eggs everyday since then until today. She's always been afraid of us, but when we started feeding her, she did get a little better but still will not come right up to us.

I guess I should just let her be until she is over her episode. I just do not want something to get her, but I'm afraid to try again to get out of the nest.
 

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