I have two hens up to this trick. They both have been sitting in the nesting boxes (one minute there in each box then they swap then there in together). They have been very aggressive when i try to get near them but i look every day to see if there is any eggs under them. I dont mind if they do go broody but they are just sitting there on no eggs and they spend 2-3 hours out doors during the day. Shall i leave some eggs under them or are they just doing it for something to do as they dont seem 100% broody.
It sounds like they may on their way to becoming 100% broody...lol. I've only had two broodies in two years. And it started with spending a LOT of time on the nest, but still staying off the nest too long to be considered full-on broody. Within a week or so though, both ended up staying on the nest to the point where I had to put them out each day to force them to eat/drink/poo...back on the nest within 15 minutes or so. And egg or not - doesn't matter to a hen going broody. I wouldn't put anything under them until/unless they go full broody (assuming you're wanting them to hatch something out). If you're not wanting chicks, don't put anything under them and let them sit for a month, or break them of their broodiness.
My test to determine if they are really broody is, if they spend two consecutive nights on the nest instead of in their favorite roosting palce, they are broody and get eggs. I have one right now that spends a lot of time on the nest and walks around fluffed up and clicking like a broody, but she is laying an egg almost every day and sleeps on the roost. She is just teasing me. I suggest you read this thread. It gives different people's opinion, but it also provides some good information whether you decide to separate a broody from the flock or not. If you do give a hen eggs to hatch, give them all to her at one time and mark the eggs so you can remove any that don't belong. I just use a sharpie. Isolate a Broody? Thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=213218
Thank you for that Ridgerunner. They are both still on the nest and have been sitting on for 2 days now and not hardly getting off at all, only in the morning to get food and water so i guess they are broody will they lay there own eggs to hatch??
When they go broody, they stop laying. If you want to hatch some chicks, you will have to provide them with fertile eggs.
A friend has brought me round some eggs today 18 of them!! i only put 6 under them this evening but have just been candling the other box's and only 2-3 seem to look hopefull the others all have them spots (?) on the inside I will be candling the eggs i put under them tomorrow and fingers crossed they will be fertile and we will have baby chickies in 21 days ;D
