Why is my broody hen a jerk

[OzarkChooks]

I have a broody hen who has lost her mind. She leaves her nesting box to attack my legs, all puffed up like a rooster. Then she will scream bloody murder and run off to attack my 5 month old brahma cockerel. I have seen her fight with him on multiple occasions. She flares her neck feathers and basically floggs him. Over and over again until the alpha cockerel chases her off. Why is she being so aggressive? Is this just because she is broody?

 

[All4Eggz]

Motherly instinct

Broody hens sometimes get aggressive because of their motherly instinct. Some are not so aggressive, but I've had one broody that did something similar to yours.

I actually like when my broodies are aggressive, because then I know they will be great mother's when it comes to protecting their young!

 

[aart]

How long has she been setting?

 

[OzarkChooks]

How long has she been setting?

Maybe a month, give or take a few days. I didn't realize it at first because we had been dealing with our other broody hen.

 

[aart]

Maybe a month, give or take a few days. I didn't realize it at first because we had been dealing with our other broody hen.

So you haven't given her fertile eggs to hatch?

If you don't want her to hatch, you should break her broodiness.

 

[LavenderDaFlerf]

One of my broodies showed me where a black snake was by running across the coop and trying to get behind my chick brooder.

 

[OzarkChooks]

Looks like it's time to start reading all the "how to break a broody hen" articles!

 

[All4Eggz]

Looks like it's time to start reading all the "how to break a broody hen" articles!

Put her in a wire cage for 2-3 days, with food and water. Don't put any bedding (like hay). The point of this is to cool her overall body temperature by allowing air to circulate all around the hen. You can let her out probably a couple of times per day, but I wouldn't let her get near the coop where the nest boxes are.

 

[aart]

Looks like it's time to start reading all the "how to break a broody hen" articles!

Hard to say how long it will take due to her being broody for about a month.
Might take longer, might go faster.

My experience goes about like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest (or as soon as I know they are broody), I put her in a wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller wire(1x2) on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop or run with feed and water.

After 48 hours I let her out of crate very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate for another 48 hours.

Tho not necessary a chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor, gives the feet a break from the wire floor and encourages roosting.

 

[OzarkChooks]

Thank you! I have a small crate for quarantining new birds, I'll use it. Hopefully her sanity returns soon.