What are the symptoms of a broody chicken?

Behavioral Changes:

* Nest Bound: She spends almost all her time in the nest, only leaving for short periods to eat and drink.

* Aggressive: She becomes fiercely protective of her nest and will attack other chickens, humans, or even dogs that come too close.

* Vocalizations: She will often make clucking and "broody" sounds, particularly when sitting on her eggs.

* Plucking: She may pluck feathers from her breast and belly to line the nest.

Physical Changes:

* Fluffed feathers: She will often keep her feathers fluffed up, creating a warm and cozy space for the eggs.

* Increased body temperature: Her body temperature will rise, making her warmer than usual to incubate the eggs.

* Reduced appetite: Broody hens will often eat less, focusing on the task of incubating.

Other Signs:

* Squatting in the nest: She will often squat and sit on her eggs, even if they are not present.

* "Broody" look: Her eyes will appear bright and focused, almost as if in a trance.

If you see these signs, you can be fairly certain that your hen is broody.

Important Note: While some chickens are naturally broody, others are not. If you don't want your hen to sit on eggs, you can try to break her broodiness by removing her from the nest several times a day, providing her with a dust bath, or offering her a distraction like a toy.