What os going on with this hen?

[bkreugar]

I am new to chickens.We bought 2 gold sexlink and 3 black sexlink the last week of april.By my count they are 18 weeks old.

They were in the brooder in the house for 6 weeks.Then they went to their new coop for 3 weeks.Then at 9 weeks their run was also done. They spent a week in the run.Then we started letting them free range during the day.

Every morning my DD lets them out of the coop and drops feed.They are more interested in getting out and about except one.We have 7 acres and 2 horses.They like to hang with the horses except for one black sexlink.

Even with gate to run open she stays in the run 95% of the time and she is LOUD.I don't mind but she sounds like she is complaining.I wonder if she is broody but she stays out in the run most of the day and walks and scratches.Not taying in one spot.Nor is she fluffed up as I have read a broody hen is.

She chooses to stay in the run.

WHy would she do this?

 

[McGoo]

Chickens are like people - some of us are noisy. I have one chicken that's a loner. Actually of my new little ones... I've got another one that's a bit of a loner too.

Is it possible that she's getting ready to lay an egg? They're really noisy for a couple of days when that's happening. Seems a little early, but maybe?

 

[fivebigreds]

Does the rest of them pick on her? Sometimes they will avoid others if they are low girl on the totom pole.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

At 18 weeks it is not to early for her to lay an egg. My brown and black sex-links layed at 15 weeks.

Have you shown her the way out? Even though the others know it she may not. I do agree with fivebigreds about being low on the pole but, I would think with all that room she would go out and freerange off away from the others. But, being on the low end (if that is the case) she may not be there when the others leave and therefore hasn't figured out how to get out.

 

[antiquebuff]

I try to let my Silkies free range a little each day and they are not interested at all. They love their run, they will walk out for a few minutes and go right back in. Maybe they feel safer in the run. But, all the others will knock you over to get out for awhile. I guess its just a chicken thing!!

 

[WVDan]

that's pretty cool. a home-body chicken!

 

[bkreugar]

Thanks for all the oppinions

! I have looked daily for an egg both in the run and the coop because she SOUNDS like what you guys say is the agg sound...bwaaackk BwaaKK BWAKK BWAKK!.So I guess it will be soon.

I will put her out myself later in the day and see what she does but she does go out herself once in a while.I thought she was kinda sad and though , I gotta get her something to hang with her in the run.

I have not been able to see who is top dog (or chicken) with these guys because they other 4 get along great and look so close it is hard for me to tell which is which.They run TOGETHER as a 4some when they move.

She is eating/drinking and scratching and often the other hens come back to the run for a nap and they all sleep in the run together.I just thought she was sad.My daughter thinks she can't get out.Will try your ideas.Thanks

 

[Chickenaddict]

Quote:
Another way to find out if shes going broody is check her belly to see if its naked. I have a black cochin thats really noisey when the others are out of her site and she is hanging out in the run. I think they do it to possibly call the others back? I could be wrong heck im still learning new things everyday and i have had chickens for almost 2 years now lol

 

[keljonma]

Our Gold Penciled Hamburg hen is ALWAYS the first one out of the barn AND then she immediately runs back into the barn. We named her Lady Bird Johnson, because when she was a chick and first let outside, she immediately ran for the wild flower garden..

Lady Bird spends almost the entire morning chasing bugs as they fly into the barn. And she is the world's best spider catcher!

So while your sex-link may be a stay-at-home, I wouldn't worry about her. She may be getting as many yard yummy bugs as the ones who run out to forage.

If your pullet hasn't started laying yet, she is most likely not broody.

 

[arlee453]

I don't think she is broody. A broody hen sits in a nest, like in a trance and will peck/hiss at you if you disturb her. She will only get off the nest for VERY short periods of time to eat, drink and defecate, then it's right back on the nest again.

I think the ba-gawking is her becoming mature and at the point of lay. They will often go through the signs of egg-laying for a few days or week before they actually produce that first egg - standing around ba-gawking, going in and out of the nest box, etc