One of my buff orpington hens has gotten increasingly angry and hostile over the past week. Nothing has changed in her routine or diet. Today she will not let anyone near her, she hasn't come out of the coop all day and she makes the most terrible racket if you get within 2 feet of the coop. Does anyone recognize these behaviors? She is just over a year old and has never had any problems until now.

Is she sitting on, or is there any eggs in her nest?
She might be broody.
When my hen became broody, she was a sheer tyrant!
She pecked at me, and growled, and hissed if I came anywhere near her.

Jan, Yes, it sounds like she is broody, and this isn't a problem, just another cycle in the life of a hen! Some broody hens are quiet and just hunker down and squeal and fluff up, but others are so protective of their nest (eggs or not) that they do seem formidable!

Are you interested in hatching chicks? Do you have a rooster with your hens? If not, you will just have to live with her until her broodiness wears off and one cannot say whether it will be a week or 3 weeks! If you can separate he,r with no nest, she may break her broodiness a little sooner. Or put some fertile eggs under her and hatch some chicks--or after a week or 10 days of setting (leave her a couple of eggs), you can slip some day old chicks from your Feed Store or hatchery and she will believe she hatched them. It is part of the whole chicken experience. Good luck, CJR

Thank you for your help. Obvioulsly I'm a novice. I got her some fertilized eggs and she has calmed down quite a bit. We anxiously await our first chicks that are hatched here at home. Your service is great at The Coop! Jan