Broody hen disrupting egg-laying?

[HenLuv]

Well,that changes my first answer, kind of.I thought she was setting on fertile eggs!! Hahaha!! Poor #3

I do try to mark the eggs accurately, and even keep an egg record book (for health monitoring, mostly). Although we have a camera pointed at the nest box, I will often go out to do a head count anyway, especially if I can't tell who is in there. Fortunately for me, they each have a particular style of egg! The dominant one's are always larger and bullet-shaped, #2's are smaller, tear-shaped, and pale, frequently with spots. #3's are large and rounder at the base, often paler than #1's. Having only 3 chickens sure helps.

 

[HenLuv]

Sometimes broodiness is contagious.. that may be the case.
Or maybe one or more are eating the eggs. If this is the case, make sure to buy crushed oyster shells or some source of calcium from your local feed store.

I haven't seen signs of that yet, but I will definitely keep an eye out, and provide the supplemental shells.

 

[Rooster Giddens]

I do try to mark the eggs accurately, and even keep an egg record book (for health monitoring, mostly). Although we have a camera pointed at the nest box, I will often go out to do a head count anyway, especially if I can't tell who is in there. Fortunately for me, they each have a particular style of egg! The dominant one's are always larger and bullet-shaped, #2's are smaller, tear-shaped, and pale, frequently with spots. #3's are large and rounder at the base, often paler than #1's. Having only 3 chickens sure helps.

Sounds to me you've got all your bases covered! Thanks for responding!

 

[HenLuv]

Update: Since the weather will not allow me to try the dog cage today, I left my broody hen on her nest all morning, tending those wooden eggs. That freed up the bottom of two vertical nest boxes, so I placed the last of the wooden eggs there (all of which I'd removed yesterday morning in an attempt to get Broody to leave). Prissy (the dominant hen) laid a perfectly beautiful and welcomed egg in the bottom box, even while her broody sister occupied/guarded the top. I'm hoping that hen #2 will now follow #1's example.

 

[All4Eggz]

Update: Since the weather will not allow me to try the dog cage today, I left my broody hen on her nest all morning, tending those wooden eggs. That freed up the bottom of two vertical nest boxes, so I placed the last of the wooden eggs there (all of which I'd removed yesterday morning in an attempt to get Broody to leave). Prissy (the dominant hen) laid a perfectly beautiful and welcomed egg in the bottom box, even while her broody sister occupied/guarded the top. I'm hoping that hen #2 will now follow #1's example.

Good luck! Sounds like a plan