What the heck is this hen up to?

[gritsar]

I finally figured out who's been lining one of the nest boxes with feathers. It's one of my dark brahma hens. Sure enough her belly and lower chest is bare, yet she's not broody.
She lays her egg, sits for maybe an hour and then leaves.
So why is she pulling out her feathers?

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Sounds like she is preparing to go broody? Maybe in the next couple days or so..

 

[b.hromada]

Maybe she's a rabbit!

Seriously though, I've heard of this being done by some hens. Mine don't do that, but they do play around with the hay in their nest boxes, putting it here and there. Its really cute! Hope you find out why she's doing this.

 

[Ridgerunner]

She knows you want a broody and she's teasing you. Consider it a strip tease.

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

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[gritsar]

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Gee, I hadn't thought of that but you're probably right. Dang broody tease!

 

[Attack Chicken]

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[gardenak]

Maybe she is broody but has the attention span of a gnat and gets bored.

 

[peakpoultry]

 

[gritsar]

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You mean some chickens have attention spans longer than that?