Broody-ish Hen

[kristeninprogress]

I have a 7 month Buff Orpington that started laying a little over a month ago. Recently (about two weeks now), she's been aggressive while on the nest. She'll make this awful warning noise if I open up the door, she'll puff up, and she's pecked me hard enough to draw blood the past two days. I thought she was going broody, but she doesn't stay in the box for more than 3 hours, and she's still laying eggs.

Am I looking at a hen on the cusp of being broody? Or am I looking at an aggressive layer? Or is she actually broody, but she's just not staying on the nest because I'm taking the eggs?

 

[sourland]

She may be in a pre broody stage or she may just be defensive. Time will tell.

 

[Chicka_deee]

as sourland said she might be going broody and we’ll just have to wait and see, yet I have a crazy buff Orpington who is the sweetest off the nest but the meanest on the nest!

 

[kristeninprogress]

She may be in a pre broody stage or she may just be defensive. Time will tell.

Ok, so pre-broody is actually a thing? Haha. I wasn't sure if it happened or how long it lasted before true broodiness.

as sourland said she might be going broody and we’ll just have to wait and see, yet I have a crazy buff Orpington who is the sweetest off the nest but the meanest on the nest!

I'm really hoping this won't be typical behavior. She's so sweet off the nest, but I'm not liking the battle scars when she's on the nest.

 

[sourland]

Well, broodiness is a hormonally induced occurrence. Wear leather gloves when collecting eggs or moving her. You are bigger than she is.

 

[centrarchid]

As I watch a group of pullets go through a breeding cycle I am seeing some things. In my situation no eggs are being removed from nests except to be labelled. Currently three are going through at about same time. One has been cranky after the first few eggs in nest. Another got cranky a couple days prior to start of incubation (full on broodiness). Another went broody and sits quite even as I inspect her closely. They are full siblings with same hatch date.

 

[kristeninprogress]

As I watch a group of pullets go through a breeding cycle I am seeing some things. In my situation no eggs are being removed from nests except to be labelled. Currently three are going through at about same time. One has been cranky after the first few eggs in nest. Another got cranky a couple days prior to start of incubation (full on broodiness). Another went broody and sits quite even as I inspect her closely. They are full siblings with same hatch date.

Thanks, that's helpful! I don't mind broodiness, but we're in the middle of moving, so it's not a good time. I'm not sure I want to break her, but I'm hoping I can hold her off until we get to the new place.

 

[ariri30]

I have a 7 month Buff Orpington that started laying a little over a month ago. Recently (about two weeks now), she's been aggressive while on the nest. She'll make this awful warning noise if I open up the door, she'll puff up, and she's pecked me hard enough to draw blood the past two days. I thought she was going broody, but she doesn't stay in the box for more than 3 hours, and she's still laying eggs.

Am I looking at a hen on the cusp of being broody? Or am I looking at an aggressive layer? Or is she actually broody, but she's just not staying on the nest because I'm taking the eggs?

I’m having the same predicament with my 5 month old pullet. She’s being puffing and growling for Teo weeks. Still lays eggs every single day. I posted a video here but no response. Here’s the video of her. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM7u9AmBnEgDKonIYqToH6g

 

[kristeninprogress]

I’m having the same predicament with my 5 month old pullet. She’s being puffing and growling for Teo weeks. Still lays eggs every single day. I posted a video here but no response. Here’s the video of her. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM7u9AmBnEgDKonIYqToH6g

Mine is still laying, too. She hasn't sat on the nest long enough to seem broody, and she puffs up like a turkey every time I walk into the run. I'm thinking she's just a cranky layer.

 

[ariri30]

Mine is still laying, too. She hasn't sat on the nest long enough to seem broody, and she puffs up like a turkey every time I walk into the run. I'm thinking she's just a cranky layer.

How’s she doing? Mine hasn’t changed her crazy behavior. She lays her tiny egg EVERY DAY I really want her to stop her nonsense