She clucks,Pecks,Chases other hens away but is still laying!

[IrishBoy]

so .. my Buff Sussex . hatched out last summer , she is 9 months old and i noticed she is spending longer on the nest box, she gathers the other eggs under her and she will lay her egg .. but she skips a day now! ..
She sort of growls at me and other hens at the same time she puffs herself up all big and bold ! then she'll chase you!

but she is still laying eggs and not setting on them ..

WHAT IS UP ?

 

[IrishBoy]

oh and she's been laying for around 7 weeks now

 

[Chickielady]

sounds to me like she is 'practicing', and very soon she will go into full broody.
Take the other eggs away, and give her fake eggs (with the correct weight), and isolate her with a nice nest, with food and water close by her, alone so she will not be bothered or kicked off her favorite nest by other hens coming in to lay.
Then watch her, see if she 'zones' out or not.
If not, release her.
If she does zone, let her set.
If you've no fertile eggs, buy some.
If you do not want to buy any, you can let her set a few weeks, then go buy some chicks, and in the dark of night with nothing but a flashlight, remove the fake eggs, and give her the chicks.
The chicks and the hen will know exactly what to do !
Protect her and her new babies from other hens, and any cold by having a heat lamp over her high enough not to cause injury but keep them warm...follow instructions in this web site to care for a broody hen and new chicks, and have fun !
A broody hen is a blessing !
Not everyone ever gets one in their lifetime !

 

[aeg1001]

well this is good to know! we have a hen that was doing the same thing! its like she would sit sometimes but other days other things were more important.