Broody hen at night and sometimes in the da.

[Mccluckers]

Hello,

I have a "broody" frizzle that has been "broody" for at least three days and she comes out in the morning with the rest of them she forages around for a couple of hours goes back onto the nest for abit comes back out again then goes back in again at around 6.00pm and stays there over night.

She is a young bird(9 months) and has been laying for about a month.
I want to order her some hatchicng eggs but ...

What is going on?!?

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I would guess that she isn't broody if she's spending that much time off the nest. Some hens sort of play at being broody, which it sounds like your hen is doing. I wouldn't waste money on hatching eggs until she starts staying on the nest most of the day or if you have an incubator. Some of my girls will get off their nests for an hour or so, but that's usually on really hot days. And once they go back, that's where they stay.

You might also give her a good one over to make sure she isn't having a laying problem or being picked on.

 

[Mrs. K]

She might not have settled yet. If the eggs don't cost a lot, I might order them. But do NOT put them under her until she has sat close to 24 hours. She should be off the nest for less than 15 minutes. I have often had broody act like you describe for a couple of days before they get serious.

Mrs K

 

[donrae]

Agree to give her a little more time before setting eggs. You can sure use decoy or bait eggs to encourage her to set, but I wouldn't give her the "real" eggs until she's setting tighter. Some hens, especially first timers, just like to flirt with setting for a while. The fact it drives the human nuts is just a bonus lol.

 

[Mccluckers]

Hi guys, I worked out she only got off because she is at the bottom of the pecking order and the others chase her of the nest I have now cornered of part of the coop and she hasn't got of at all, I will wait till tommorow and if she is still sitting I will order some eggs! Exciting!!