She's Not On Punishment And She's Not Grounded!

[markb816]

I have a RIR that is about a year old.
She is not the highest on the pecking order but not the lowest either. She does seem to be somewhat of a bully to the others lower on the totem pole.
Anyway, the whole flock is pretty much a tight nit group, sticking together for the most part, free ranging.
But for the past couple of days this RIR has been sticking close to the coop not really wanting to venture off.
She still lays an egg in the nesting box, but spends a lot of time roosting in the coop throughout the day.
There is a heat advisory here in the Middle Tennessee and I'm wondering should I be concerned for her behavior or what may cause her behavior?
BYC, help me out here.
Thanks

 

[Imp]

Is she maybe going broody?

Imp

 

[mgw]

Quote:
x2 could be broody

 

[markb816]

What are some other signs/symptoms of broodiness?
Is this a good thing or bad thing?
I'm not sure that I want to be a grandparent yet.

 

[Imp]

Quote:
Staying on the nest for long periods. Hoarding eggs. Irritability when disturbed.

It's neither good nor bad. Just means she wants to hatch eggs. If you don't want to be a grandparent yet

,take away the eggs daily. If you need to break her from being broody, it will depend on how determined she is. Taking the eggs might be enough to stop her, or just taking her off the nest several times & tossing her outside the coop. (worked for me) Sometimes they are pretty stubborn and you might need to put her on a wire bottom cage off the ground. The idea is to cool off her underside.

Or just let her hatch something.

Good luck

Imp