Chicken acts broody but still lays

[Matt42]

I have an austra white that had been super calm but last a few weeks she’s been acting super weird. It all started with her being super defensive of her nest while she is laying, she was super calm with me and other chickens in the flock but now that sweet lady turned into dragon in her nest while laying which wasn’t like this before, she puffs, yells growls etc and stays hours in the nesting box but eventually leaves with a leg. And sometimes esp recently even when she comes out after laying, she still puffs, growls and fights with other chickens like she’s agitated easily by others beings. But she’s not broody not sitting on the eggs and still lays. Anyone been in this situation?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sounds like pre-broody behavior. She may go full blown broody or not.

 

[Matt42]

Sounds like pre-broody behavior. She may go full blown broody or not.

I know it’s not common for an austra white to go broody. Should I be concerned if it goes like this for longer and she doesn’t become fully broody, like if she has fluctuating hormones?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Not really much you can do about it if she's sorta stuck in this in between phase. I have one that waffles for weeks or even months before finally setting. She may go fully broody (at which time you can break her if you wish), or just gradually lose interest in it.

 

[Matt42]

Not really much you can do about it if she's sorta stuck in this in between phase. I have one that waffles for weeks or even months before finally setting. She may go fully broody (at which time you can break her if you wish), or just gradually lose interest in it.

I see thanks for this info. Do you know if a chicken can differentiate or feels that she is collecting eggs for a clutch like for 2-3 weeks to hatch than just regular laying like any other day?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I see thanks for this info. Do you know if a chicken can differentiate or feels that she is collecting eggs for a clutch like for 2-3 weeks to hatch than just regular laying like any other day?

Supposedly a clutch can help a hen already inclined towards brooding to go into full broodiness, but hens can also go broody on absolutely nothing at all. Not sure if that answers the question? I don't let eggs build up in the nests if I can help it.

 

[Matt42]

Supposedly a clutch can help a hen already inclined towards brooding to go into full broodiness, but hens can also go broody on absolutely nothing at all. Not sure if that answers the question? I don't let eggs build up in the nests if I can help it.

Ok, was wondering if it’s a phase that a chicken gets in and she starts to lay just to build a clutch for a few weeks then she goes fully broody and in the meantime she can act broody and that’s why she is more protective of her nest than usual laying times, like it’s determined 2-3 weeks before a hen goes fully broody.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ok, was wondering if it’s a phase that a chicken gets in and she starts to lay just to build a clutch for a few weeks then she goes fully broody and in the meantime she can act broody and that’s why she is more protective of her nest than usual laying times, like it’s determined 2-3 weeks before a hen goes fully broody.

They can build up a clutch to sit on and then set but given they'll sit on eggs that aren't their own it's not required. Some birds just go half broody or broody regardless of if there's a clutch or not.