Doris is Broody

We have been able to avoid broodiness somehow this spring, until now. She’s a flat shrieking pancake in the family nest box. Husband puts her on the roost each night next to the open window in hopes that the cool breeze will chill out the raging momma hormones. So far no such luck.

It’s causing a bit of turmoil in the coop. When I take her out and put her in the yard she does the puffed up cluck which in itself is normal. She makes herself into a big poof ball and does a very even “bok bok bok bok” over and over again. It’s Betty’s reaction that’s interesting. She starts shrieking and chases Doris around the yard. This has never happened during broody time before and I can’t figure out what’s behind it.

Hopefully, things will return to normal soon and before Betty “catches” the broodiness. Doris is not a good hatcher. Betty is a great hatcher and mother. She raised Percy. I do want to wait until their annual state test in July, before we add any youngins. Last year the younger girls were too young to get tested and the flock couldn’t be NPIP certified. Plus they both lay the biggest eggs, we don’t want them both out of commission.