Strange, choppy clucking by Alpha hen + Defensive stance by 2nd hen.

[FiddleChics]

I have 2, one year old laying hens - in a 30' x 28' enclosed run, and also, an additional 6'x14' run that's connected by a chicken door and can be isolated off if needed. The 2 adult hens are my first chickens & both are Red Sexlinks.

The Alpha hen has been super broody & cranky for the past 3-4 weeks. I've also noticed some bickering between the 2 hens lately - some growling & grumbling between them... but the 2nd hen stays respectful, keeps her distance from the broody Alpha. They normally get along well, but noticing the cranky Alpha - I added a second food & watering station - so they can both have their space... yet they still opt to drink & feed together. So all was good.

I'm increasing my flock this year, & have ten, 5 week old chicks inside the house. In the conventional "Look don't Touch" situation - I brought the chicks outside for a few hours, yesterday - where they could play in the enclosed, totally separate run - safely away from harm of the big hens. (OH my goodness they were so happy!!!) NOTE: I will NOT be introducing the new chicks... until about 2 or 3 weeks of "Look don't Touch" has been between them & the hens. Keeping the chicks totally separate during this time.

Here's where the action began: The Alpha hen.. on the other side of the wire - started making this weird, choppy sounding, clucking noise that I've never heard before. (as heard in the video below). But when hearing that weird noise from the Alpha... the 2nd hen FREAKED OUT! She ran to the farthest corner of the big run, and stood under the bench there. When the Alpha eventually walked over - towards the 2nd hen... the 2nd hen jumped out from under the bench, spread her wings out -all crazy like - with her tail fanned WAY out - her head lowered... stamping her feet... while she was really puffed up huge. I have never seen this before. I know she wasn't reacting to the 10 new chicks... this was directed at the Alpha hen because she faced her off... and wouldn't turn her back to her. But the 2 hens didn't squabble. Their tails were up very high and they were marching around but there was no fighting. (Thank God!!!) But my question is... what WAS that? It just seemed SO bizarre!

Here's the video: I wasn't fast enough to capture the 2nd hen's bizarre stance, but she looked like a giant, male turkey. Any ideas?

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I have 2, one year old laying hens - in a 30' x 28' enclosed run, and also, an additional 6'x14' run that's connected by a chicken door and can be isolated off if needed. The 2 adult hens are my first chickens & both are Red Sexlinks.

The Alpha hen has been super broody & cranky for the past 3-4 weeks. I've also noticed some bickering between the 2 hens lately - some growling & grumbling between them... but the 2nd hen stays respectful, keeps her distance from the broody Alpha. They normally get along well, but noticing the cranky Alpha - I added a second food & watering station - so they can both have their space... yet they still opt to drink & feed together. So all was good.

I'm increasing my flock this year, & have ten, 5 week old chicks inside the house. In the conventional "Look don't Touch" situation - I brought the chicks outside for a few hours, yesterday - where they could play in the enclosed, totally separate run - safely away from harm of the big hens. (OH my goodness they were so happy!!!) NOTE: I will NOT be introducing the new chicks... until about 2 or 3 weeks of "Look don't Touch" has been between them & the hens. Keeping the chicks totally separate during this time.

Here's where the action began: The Alpha hen.. on the other side of the wire - started making this weird, choppy sounding, clucking noise that I've never heard before. (as heard in the video below). But when hearing that weird noise from the Alpha... the 2nd hen FREAKED OUT! She ran to the farthest corner of the big run, and stood under the bench there. When the Alpha eventually walked over - towards the 2nd hen... the 2nd hen jumped out from under the bench, spread her wings out -all crazy like - with her tail fanned WAY out - her head lowered... stamping her feet... while she was really puffed up huge. I have never seen this before. I know she wasn't reacting to the 10 new chicks... this was directed at the Alpha hen because she faced her off... and wouldn't turn her back to her. But the 2 hens didn't squabble. Their tails were up very high and they were marching around but there was no fighting. (Thank God!!!) But my question is... what WAS that? It just seemed SO bizarre!

Here's the video: I wasn't fast enough to capture the 2nd hen's bizarre stance, but she looked like a giant, male turkey. Any ideas?

Sounds like they are both broody.

 

[50-45-1]

What your second hen was doing sounds to me to be a broody hen behavior. The puffing up, the stance, tail fanned and head lowered. The clucking noises are what hens do to call chicks to food. Also a rooster will do this to entice hens to stay close to him.
Do you notice either of your hens sitting in the nest box all day and night?
THAT is what a broody hen does, she will set on eggs for 21 daYs and hatch chicks.
One or both of your hens may be thinking about going broody. Time will tell, if she goes full blown broody, she will not leave the nest.

 

[FiddleChics]

Thanks @50-45-1 Yes, I've been shooing the Alpha off the next at least 2x a day - then putting ice packs, or frozen bottles of water on the empty nests - so if she wants to sit... it'll cool her hot little bottom off! lol I've got a camera in the coop so I watch them for sitting too long... at which point I do go out & shoo her off the nest. Haven't noticed the 2nd hen doing that broody thing, but I have read, it can be contagious. But the 2nd hen is growly too now... which I don't like much.

I guess I never heard that choppy clucking noise... because i've never had a hen hatch chicks... But I always listen carefully to what they're saying... (hah... that sounds nuts) but I really do... I recognize certain sounds and why they're doing it... but that was a sound I'd never heard... but they're both healthy, and shiny... and thankfully laying about 5-6 eggs a week each... so I'm hoping - the introduction of the new chicks over the next few weeks, will break the broodiness... Do you think so?

 

[Aunt Angus]

Oh my goodness! Broody broody broody! My BO did this for a few days before taking to the nest and not coming out. I had never seen it before, and I got worried. And she was doing that same clucking you describe. She still does it, only now her chick answers. It's how she talks to her baby. Cutest. Thing. Ever.

I let her set for three weeks on ceramic eggs and sneaked a chick under her at night after 21 days. That worked beautifully for me, and now Poppy has a baby! But I've read that a good way to break a broody is to put her in a dog crate with food and water but no bedding so she can't set. I've also read that sometimes the presence of peeping chicks can break broodiness.

Regardless, I understand it's better to break them early as it gets harder to do the longer it goes on. Your camera set up sounds great! You will be able to spot serious broodiness quickly. My advice would be to break them as soon as you see the setting getting serious.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[FiddleChics]

Oh my goodness! Broody brody broody! My BO did this for a few days before taking to the nest and not coming out. I had never seen it before, and I got worried. And she was doing that same clucking you describe. She still does it, only now her chick answers. It's how she talks to her baby. Cutest. Thing. Ever.

I let her set for three weeks on ceramic eggs and sneaked a chick under her at night after 21 days. That worked beautifully for me, and now Poppy has a baby! But I've read that a good way to break a broody is to put her in a dog crate with food and water but no bedding so she can't set. I've also read that sometimes the presence of peeping chicks can break broodiness.

Regardless, I understand it's better to break them early as it gets harder to do the longer it goes on. Your camera set up sounds great! You will be able to spot serious broodiness quickly. My advice would be to break them as soon as you see the setting getting serious.

Let us know how it goes!

Thank you, I knew the Alpha hen was broody... but didn't realize the 2nd hen was too, but I'm sure now, and this makes sense. I've also found the "broody droppings"... so was pretty sure about the Alpha. So my question is... Do you think the introduction of the new chicks will help break the hens of their broodiness? The peeping & fresh, new activity and all? Do you think the clucking noise was more of a maternal thing... I do hope so!
I was getting the feeling that the 2 hens were kinda... bored. I mean, how much fun can it be - being the Alpha... if there's only 1 hen to be boss over? A Queen - with no subjects to rule - can't be much fun! hahah...

 

[Aunt Angus]

Thank you, I knew the Alpha hen was broody... but didn't realize the 2nd hen was too, but I'm sure now, and this makes sense. I've also found the "broody droppings"... so was pretty sure about the Alpha. So my question is... Do you think the introduction of the new chicks will help break the hens of their broodiness? The peeping & fresh, new activity and all? Do you think the clucking noise was more of a maternal thing... I do hope so!
I was getting the feeling that the 2 hens were kinda... bored. I mean, how much fun can it be - being the Alpha... if there's only 1 hen to be boss over? A Queen - with no subjects to rule - can't be much fun! hahah...

I have read it can, but I am too new at this to know for sure. I read A LOT about it before deciding to let Poppy brood. Several articles suggested that the presence of chicks does stop broody behavior, but I don't know if that's only true for the mama or for all broodies in the flock, if that makes sense. I was never able to pin that down.

 

[FiddleChics]

I have read it can, but I am too new at this to know for sure. I read A LOT about it before deciding to let Poppy brood. Several articles suggested that the presence of chicks does stop broody behavior, but I don't know if that's only true for the mama or for all broodies in the flock, if that makes sense. I was never able to pin that down.

I truly hope it does stop it! I know the peeping makes MY heart happy, that's for sure! And I'm SO excited about having a larger flock, & oh how I love the 2 Buff Orpingtons in this new group of chicks. I'm just in love with how sweet natured, gentle and affectionate they are! I could sit all day and just watch them! hahah! Well I'll post after they are finally moved in with the hens! I'm nervous about it... but think if there's a long enough "look but don't touch' time between them... that the integration will go well and the broodiness will stop! Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[Aunt Angus]

I truly hope it does stop it! I know the peeping makes MY heart happy, that's for sure! And I'm SO excited about having a larger flock, & oh how I love the 2 Buff Orpingtons in this new group of chicks. I'm just in love with how sweet natured, gentle and affectionate they are! I could sit all day and just watch them! hahah! Well I'll post after they are finally moved in with the hens! I'm nervous about it... but think if there's a long enough "look but don't touch' time between them... that the integration will go well and the broodiness will stop! Keeping my fingers crossed!

I will absolutely follow your adventure! I will have to integrate some in a couple of months, so this is all very helpful and interesting!

 

[FiddleChics]

I will absolutely follow your adventure! I will have to integrate some in a couple of months, so this is all very helpful and interesting!

@Aunt Angus - I'll follow your progress too!!! Just curious, did you sneak just 1 baby chick under the broody hen? At night? Or how exactly did you do it? I can't have a rooster (our town won't allow it) but can order female chicks... so this may be a solution to adding a few here and there to the flock!!! Love that idea! Can you expand on this?