Worried—is this brooding or illness?

[dgriffi3]

Hi friends,
one of our Silkie Bantams is acting unusually. She was in the nesting box yesterday afternoon the whole time we let the girls out to free range, and is there again today. She seemed sick—shaking and making strange noises—so I gave her a bath and tried to see if she had any blockage or anything. The bath perked her right up and she flapped around, and ran across the yard back to the run to find her sisters. She was scratching in the dirt and pecking for bugs and seemed 100%. We went to church, came home, and she is back making weird noises in the nesting box.

there was an egg under her this morning, but I don’t know if it was hers. Could she be going broody? She’s not even a year old. Could she have an egg stuck? If so, what can I do to help her?
Thank you for your help!

 

[floppysquirrel04]

What kind of noises is she making? She sounds broody. What do you mean by shaking? Does she only make the noise when you or another chicken approaches her?

 

[ValerieJ]

Are the strange sounds like little growls? She sounds broody to me.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

What kind of noises is she making? Dazzle, one of my girls, went broody under a year old. Is she growling at you or making some other noise?

 

[dgriffi3]

The noise are almost like an angry purr! So maybe you are right! I don’t care if she stops laying, we just want her to be ok. My kids adore her.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

She sounds like she is broody. Can we see a picture of her in the nesting box?

 

[dgriffi3]

She definitely puffed herself up when I opened the door to look at her. I think you are right, she seems protective! Thank you

 

[EggSighted4Life]

She seemed sick—shaking and making strange noises—

Hi there, hope you are enjoying BYC!

Egg binding can be deadly fast and does not sound like the issue here.

In fact... I'm impressed that you noticed the shaking... as most people do not! Great attention to detail.

I bred Silkies for a few years.. most of mine did go broody before a year old... some after only a couple weeks of laying and is the very reason I sold them off.

The strange sound... a little lick cluck cluck? They can make so many funny noises when broody!

If you don't have space or desire for more chicks... breaking her right away is recommended. Sooner is better than later. One of the clues can be the big stinky poos that broody's make... but it's a process (hormones building, digestion slowing) and they get worse once it's fully set in.

If you do want to add chicks... consider adopting her some sexed chicks from your local feed store in a couple weeks... this helps prevent dealing with roosters if that isn't your thing, while still allowing her hearts desire.

That being said... she WILL be broody again. You can always break her and plan for another time.

Whatever you do... DON'T think she will snap out of it on her own. That generally doesn't happen and they lose condition while sitting. Consider feeding a flock raiser or grower with oyster shell on the side instead of layer if that's what you currently use. Silkies will do better with MORE amino acid content.

Pics always welcome!

ETA: Broody hens are anything but kid friendly IMO. The chicks they raise will also most likely be taught to avoid you and are *usually* less people friendly than those you raise yourself.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

She definitely puffed herself up when I opened the door to look at her. I think you are right, she seems protective! Thank you

Looks broody.. .

 

[ValerieJ]

I have one hen that goes broody from time to time. When she does, she acts like this. When I reach in to take her off the nest she will give out a growl or trill and shake.