Broody behavior?

[FowlFriend]

One of my 2 hens has been acting weird for several weeks. She hasn't been nearly as social as usual and she is the only one laying eggs still. I'm learning that she just wants to lay in a nest she's made all day and night! I guess this is broody behavior? She does still get up to eat and drink (but not as often as the other hen--she is taking her sitting very seriously).

The eggs are not fertile as we have no roos. Should I let her lay on the eggs for awhile? Or should I collect them? Is there anything else I should do, or will this run its course?

 

[happyhens44]

Sounds like broody behavior to me, but if she still laying idk if shes fully broody then..... Im not sure, Im not a broody perfessional. well I would let her sit on a few of not fertile eggs, and when 21 days come maybe go to a local feed store and buy her a baby or however many you want. And if you dont want that, you could buy her a dozen or so eggs to stick under her, and if you dont want that id break her.

Whats the breed?

 

[FowlFriend]

Thanks for responding. She's a Coturnix quail hen. I don't want to get her a baby because we hatched her and her sister as science projects--now we have pet quail! LOL! We built a special run for them and will keep them until they die, but we are not set up for more.

I should add that I've been gathering her egg every day, except tonight. She has made a little nest in the cage and is sitting on the egg, looking fluffy and smug. Too cute!

 

[Robo]

Hmmm... this is very rare, I would give her some fertile eggs and watch, but don't worry if you don't have a rooster thay're not gonna hatch.

 

[happyhens44]

Yeah, Then I would break her. It because broodies wont give up for along time, Even if they dont have eggs, you know how to break a broody right?

here is a link, https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=181289


But if you dont want to break her, I would guess what would not be a problem either as long as shes eating and drinking, she will eventually give up.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Coturnix are easy to break up, just take the eggs away. Most of them won't set until hatch anyway.

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
1 MINOR TRIVIAL DETAIL HERE....

ITS A QUAIL, NOT A CHICKEN, THIS WONT WORK WITH GAMEBIRDS. BUT AS SHELLEY SO APTLY PUT IT... DONT WORRY THEY USUALLY WONT BROOD LONG ENOUGH TO HATCH EVEN IF THEY WERE FERTILE. THE CHANCES ARE PRETTY DARM SLIM AT BEST ON A GOOD DAY... THERE'S THE RARE OCCAISION OF COTURNIX ACTUALLY HATCHING EGGS, BUT THEY ARE RARE

 

[FowlFriend]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess I'll just let her have her egg and hope she snaps out of it soon. She was my favorite because she was the most friendly--jumped for worms and allowed us to hold her. Now she's just Miss Moody who wants to sit in her nest all day!