Brooding question

[SueD]

Hi all, I have a question,

Now that my one hen hatched her babies...my other hen is sitting in a box, and wont leave. She doesnt have any eggs she's sitting on, and she tried to bite me when I went to move her out of there. Why would she be pretending to be sitting on eggs now? and should I just leave her alone?

Thanks
Sue

 

[Canarygirl]

I've always said chicken see, chicken do. I believe she'll get tired of sitting and will leave the nest. Try giving them some special treat and see if she will come down.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

depending on how long shes been sitting in the box, I would say shes brooding. My hens have done this before and it scared the crap out of me because I thought they were sick. If she is brooding she wont lay any eggs and probably wont be moving very much, even if you pick her up and put her in a different place. You can either wait it out, or if your in a hurry, put her in a small cage with a black or dark blanket or towel completely over the cage. Supposedly this will bring the hens out of it (I learned this from a very established poultry judge a couple years ago).

 

[pharr389]

if you have any eggs, put them under her. increase your flock!!