Is my hen brooding?

[Kambi]

My one year old hen won't leave the box. She has no eggs to sit on because they roll back for collection. She is a Black Sex-Link and was the first of my hens to lay. She seems alert and not sick.

Will they exhibit broody behavior at a certain age? Certain time of year? Even without an egg to sit on or a rooster?

She made an unusual noise (growl?) when I raised the roof of the coop and checked on her. Will she stop doing this soon?

I am hoping that this is the problem and she isn't egg bound.

Thanks for any feedback

 

[CarriBrown]

Yep, she's broody. The growl is a sure sign. They will sit on air if need be and they don't care if there isn't a roo.

 

[justusnak]

Yup, I would say she is broody. Have fun!

 

[M.J]

Yes she is deffinetly boody for i had a bantam cochin that for a month was brooding on dirt and wouldn't move so i had to break her out of it. if you want to break you hen out of it you can either move her to a diffrent pen so she cant get back to her nest or is she is a hard core brooder either put icecubes under her or in a cage with a wire bottom so air come up under her and breaks her out of brooding.