Broody Cochin sits on nothing??

[newchickenfamily]

Hi all!

I have my first broody girl. A cochin that is not quite a year old. She is acting broody but is not sitting on anything. Is this possible?? She will eat and drink if I pull her out of the nest box but runs right back in to sit some more. So bottom line, is she truly broody if she isn't sitting on eggs? Otherwise she looks and acts healthy.

Thanks!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Broody hens will set on no eggs. I have a Buff Orpington Hen right now that is setting on nothing!

 

[Chicken Crazy12]

I have a 2 year old cochin that is doing the same thing. Give them some credit for determination. Typically they lay a clutch if allowed to. Then begins the real work of setting. We gather our eggs for eating, so there is nothing for her to sit on....

 

[feathersnuggles]

If she runs back to the nest and just wants to sit there - with her wings slightly extended -- she's broody. Other clues:

1) a bare patch on her chest/belly area where she's pulled out her feathers, so she can keep the eggs really warm against her skin
2) being more aggressive with the rest of the flock
3) her body temperature seems high when you pick her up - like she's running a fever or something
4) big, humongus, terrible horrible-smelling poops, when she is off the nest (they make you wanna puke they smell so bad)
5) her comb may get slightly less red, like more orangey colored
6) she screams at you or the rest of the flock, when you get close to the nest
7) when moved off the nest, she crouches, jiggles around & fluffs her wings wherever she is, just like she's still on a nest
8) she no longer squats, like hens do for a rooster to mount them

You will want to be sure a broody gets off the nest and eats/drinks/poops and moves her legs several times a day.

 

[NoseyChickens]

I have a silkie sitting on nothing and REALLY ticked off at everyone around her as we speak!

 

[newchickenfamily]

Thanks so much everyone!!!

 

[newchickenfamily]

Thanks so much everyone!!!