Weird hen behavior. Should I worry?

[annaraven]

Stella, our Sicilian Buttercup, has been very interested in Mama Buffy and her chicks. Great. Buffy is fine with her being "Aunt" Stella.

But, tonight, when I went in to check on the chickens, Buffy was in her brooder cage with her chicks, 6 of the hens were up on the roost where they're always for the evening, but Stella was lying[i.e., sleeping] on the poopboard! She's perfectly capable of hopping up to the roost- I walked over and she hopped off and then hopped up again when I went out. She seems to want to lie on the poopboard (where she'll get, well, *pooped* on tonight) instead of roosting on the roost where she's been for months! I don't understand. Why would she do something like that? Any ideas?

I tried posting this under chicken behavior, and someone suggested she might be broody. I've never heard of a broody sleeping on a poopboard before. It just seems really weird behavior. Is there something I should check for? Is she just being weird?

 

[dawg53]

Check the bottom of her feet for bumblefoot, legs for swollen joints, scaley leg mites. If it isnt any of these...maybe it is a weird broody thing with her.

 

[annaraven]

Quote:
Thanks. I'll check that tomorrow.

 

[Wisher1000]

I was thinking bumble foot also. That, or another chicken decided to exercise his/her dominance and make her get off the roost.

 

[annaraven]

I checked. Her feet look fine. She's running around with everybody like normal. Maybe she just misses Buffy and is letting the other girls bully her. I'll keep an eye on her tonight again.