broody hen (i think)

[chickens asome]

one of my hens is on some eggs but i am not sure if she is going to hatch them because she wasent on the eggs the this morning. she is one year old and a columbian rock please help me

 

[Ridgerunner]

See if she sits on the nest day and night. A broody hen will usually get up for maybe 15 minutes a day to eat, drink, and poo, then go back to the nest. A broody hen often looks like she is on a trance while sitting on the nest and will often become very defensive, growling at you and pecking you to defend her nest. The best test for me is if she goes from sleeping on a roost to sitting in the nest all night, she is broody.

If she is broody and you decide to let her hatch the eggs she is sitting on where she is, you need to mark the eggs (a black magic marker works fine) and every day, at least once a day, you need to remove any other eggs the other hens may lay in that nest.

Hope this helps.

Editted to add.

Many people will tell you that you absolutely have to isolate a broody hen from the rest of the flock. Broody hens have been hatching chicks with the flock for centuries. There are good reasons to isolate a broody but you do not absolutely have to. Here is a link that may help if you decide to isolate the broody.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=162759

Good luck!

 

[keystonepaul]

that was a very good link. The next time I have a broody that sets before I move her and her clutch of eggs I will use this method. Thanks for taking the time to post the link and C-awesome good luck with your broody. Keystonepaul

 

[chickens asome]

after 3 days she got off the eggs will she go back on them