Why has my sweet hen suddenly gotten mean??

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

My 3y/o Buff Orpington, who is usual one of my nicest hens, has suddenly become kind of mean and skittish. It started a few days ago. Every time I go into the run, she puffs up and makes angry sounds. The good thing is that she has never pecked at me, or been aggressive in any way, and she still lets me pick her up. This has never happened to one of my hens, and I'm worried that she might be sick or hurt (although, she doesn't look it). We don't have a roo, we haven't added anyone to our flock, there's been no predator attacks (that I know of), they have plenty of space, food, and water, and none of my other hens are acting weird... My immediate thought after seeing her was - maybe she's broody? - but she isn't acting like it. She isn't sitting on eggs, and I have been collecting eggs every day. What is this strange behavior, and can I fix it? Is she hurt? Sick? Stressed?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Chicken Heel]

Sounds like a light case of broodiness. I have seen it in breeds that have had the trait largely bred out of them.

 

[LaFleche]

Broody behaviour can start weeks before they actually stay put on the nest.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Broody behaviour can start weeks before they actually stay put on the nest.

I really don't want a broody hen... how can I stop this behavior before it gets bad?

 

[LaFleche]

I really don't want a broody hen... how can I stop this behavior before it gets bad?

Changing the nest box positions, bedding or moving feeders and water dispensers, adding clutter to the run or removing her favourite nest box entirely.

Chickens don't like change and it interrupts their usual routine.

 

[Slothinc]

Yes, she is going broody. Mine are so bad right now, one after the other

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Okay, so apparently she's thinking about going broody. What to do about it?

Here is aart's excellent Broody Hen Breaking article (R.I.P., aart):


https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/broody-breaking-ala-aart.77915/

 

[Perris]

My 3y/o Buff Orpington, who is usual one of my nicest hens, has suddenly become kind of mean and skittish. It started a few days ago. Every time I go into the run, she puffs up and makes angry sounds

My immediate thought after seeing her was - maybe she's broody? - but she isn't acting like it.

I'm worried that she might be sick or hurt (although, she doesn't look it)

What is this strange behavior, and can I fix it? Is she hurt? Sick? Stressed?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Like you, I think it could be incipient broodiness, or sickness. Is she self-isolating? is she eating normally, or more than usual, or less than usual? intending broodies eat heartily to build stores for the challenge ahead. Sick birds can hide sickness but often eat little or nothing, as energy is directed to the immune system instead of the digestive system (it takes energy to digest food, and when we get sick, our digestive system shuts down too).