Broody Hens & Attacking Roosters!

Previously I posted about a hen named Zoner becoming broody, wanting babies.  The good news is that she has gotten over her broodiness.  It took about a month during which she sat on a nest box every day, all day.  We removed the eggs from all the chicken nest boxes several times a day so she wasn't encouraged.  We removed Zone from the nest box whenever we could ~ one Saturday I removed her from the nest and threw her out into the yard over a dozen times.  Zone would have stayed on the nest all night, so we started blocking off the nest boxes during the night hours.  During this time Zone stopped laying eggs.  From what I read, broody hens quit laying eggs, they just want to hatch eggs.  So they sit on other hen's eggs.  But now, finally, over a month later, Zone has gotten over being broody.
 

   
And Bella has started being broody.

Here's Bella in a nest box.  Bella's a sweetie still ~ she cannot turn down a good neck rub.  We've been throwing Bella out of the nest boxes whenever we can.  She also has stopped laying eggs.  Zoner hasn't yet started laying again, either.  I expect this broodiness will be a routine thing.  I guess at least one chicken or another will be going through it?











This afternoon I went out to visit the chickens, and was promptly attacked by one of the roosters, Muffin.

I have never been attacked like this by one of my roosters.  I didn't like it.  I think Muff was trying to protect his hens.  I had come into the area suddenly and was petting several of the hens who had run up to greet me, and I think I surprised Muff.  Once he started attacking me, I raised my foot to keep him away from me, and I think that made him attack worse.  Then he stopped attacking me, and foolishly I turned my back on him.  He then got a good attack on my leg from behind.  From now on I will never turn my back on him.  He had better get over this mood he's in...