So... when I first got Lucy, the vet said she may never lay or nest again because Lupron generally destroys the reproductive system. Well, he was WRONG! She has been rying to find a nesting spot all day, getting really territorial and everything else hormonal hens do (including biting- ouch!) Believe it or not, I'm really glad about this. Even though she's going to be crazy acting sometimes, its so much more healthy to have her natural balance back.

So, happy happy me has another happy thought: this probably means that after this whole nesting thing is over, she will let her feathers grow back out (hopefully!)

I sure hope so Dom. That would be great to see a full feathered birdie.
Lets just hope this egg laying thing doesn't become habit.

Dom, I was talking to John about you and Lucy. We discussed the nesting behavior of the Ekkie hen. He had brought up a thought that really challenged me. He said, he wonders if she would let her feathers grow back if she were provided a nesting box and be allowed to do her thing that ekkie hens do at nesting season. My thoughts were more on the nest box aggression they show and getting past that. His counter was, would it be worth it to see if she lets the feathers grow back. It really made me think.

Crossing my fingers that this will stop the feather picking...

sure hope it works!!!

I think you're right about it being good for her that her system gets back to normal. You know all the triggers and the what to do and not to do, so hopefully she won't go into overload like she did before you got her. Let's hope it's a short and relatively easy season for both of you.

That's a really interesting point... Though it goes against all that people tell you about discouraging behavior, I wonder what would heppen if I gave her a bardboard box to chew and nest and them remove it when this is all over with... Its a very interesting idea that may be worht trying. I mean, I don't really see what could go wrong.

Thank you all for keeping me in your thoughts, it mean so much to me!

Contrary to popular belief I've always believed that is is better to allow the bird to go through the motions than to frustrate them further by discouraging it. There hormonal behavior only really bother us, not them. As long as it is done in a healthy manner I do not see the problem. I always suggest the cardboard box idea, after all it cardboard and therefor temporary so any territorial possessiveness for the box will only last untill the bird destroys the box! A friend of mine does this for her amazon who is in her, the bird, late twenties. And it works great for her. The bird is less aggressive except for the box of course, but when it comes to interacting with people, the bird only feels the need to defend it's nest and not it's cage, which makes sense, as a bird in the wild would defend it tree hollow but not necessarily the whole tree from the rest of the flock.

That's a very good idea Kimba. Its true, hormonalness really only effects us. I think I'll try the cardboard box in the bottom of her cage. Thanks!