Strange behavior in one of my chickens

[3915bkc]

I have a barred rock who is staying in the nesting box most all the time x 3 days now. I've checked, she does not seem to have an egg stuck, she does come out at times to eat or drink, any ideas? She's been laying regularly for some time, so it's not a pullet issue.

 

[micstrachan]

She may be broody. When you approach her best, does she fluff up her feathers and shriek at you?

 

[micstrachan]

She may be broody. When you approach her best, does she fluff up her feathers and shriek at you?

 

[sourland]

You most likely have a broody hen.

 

[3915bkc]

She may be broody. When you approach her best, does she fluff up her feathers and shriek at you?

she does! Oh I hope that's all it is

 

[micstrachan]

I meant her nest. LOL. Darn autocorrect.

If she’s broody, the behavior will probably continue and worsen. I recommend you try to break the behavior unless you want her rearing chicks.

There are lots of threads on the forum for how to do this, but for starters, I recommend ignoring the shrieks and lifting her off the nest.

Also, my Brahma does this before laying an egg, but so far the broodiness has not stuck.