Broody or Bust: Can You Handle a Sitting Hen?

[Springchicken25]

Have you ever stared into the eyes of a hen who has decided it’s her destiny to become a mama? Welcome to the broody zone—a place of pecked hands, growling fluffballs, and unpredictable emotions (hers and yours). Whether you're excited, anxious, or just curious about how to handle a broody hen, this quiz is your ultimate test.

Let’s find out: Are you ready for the feathery rollercoaster of broody behavior… or are you headed for a bust?

QUIZ:​

1. Your hen suddenly refuses to leave the nest box. What’s your first clue she might be broody?
A. She's laying an egg a day.
B. She puffs up and growls when you come near.
C. She leaves the nest to eat and scratch.
D. She’s been there for an hour—must be tired.

2. You try to collect eggs and she pecks you. What do you do?
A. Leave her alone.
B. Wear gloves and grab the eggs anyway.
C. Respect her decision and let her hatch whatever’s under her.
D. Run. Just run.

3. How long does a broody hen typically sit to hatch eggs?
A. 10 days
B. 14 days
C. 21 days
D. 30 days

4. You don’t want chicks. What’s a good way to "break" a broody hen?
A. Put ice cubes in the nest.
B. Move her out of the coop.
C. Use a wire-bottom cage with food, water, and airflow.
D. Yell, “Snap out of it!”

5. Can a broody hen still lay eggs?
A. Yes, daily.
B. No, she stops laying.
C. Only every other day.
D. She lays twice as much.

6. You want to give her fertile eggs to hatch. When’s the best time?
A. Anytime—just toss them in.
B. Right at the start, within a day or two of sitting.
C. After 10 days of sitting.
D. Once she lays 10 eggs herself.

7. Can you move a broody hen and her nest?
A. Never—she’ll explode.
B. Yes, but carefully and during nighttime.
C. Only if she’s pecking other hens.
D. Only if she gives verbal consent.

8. A broody hen leaves the nest once a day to:
A. Sunbathe and do yoga.
B. Eat, drink, poop, and stretch.
C. Find more eggs.
D. Gossip with the flock.

9. You find her sitting on golf balls. What does this mean?
A. She’s learning to play.
B. She’s confused.
C. She’s in full broody mode and anything round will do.
D. You’re being pranked.

10. Should you let a first-time broody hen hatch eggs?
A. Only if she’s been trained.
B. Sure—some do great right away!
C. No—only experienced hens.
D. Yes, but only fake eggs.

---

Answers:​

1. B
2. B
3. C
4. C
5. B
6. B
7. B
8. B
9. C
10. B

---

How Did You Do?​

0–3 correct:
Hen-dangered! You're not quite broody-ready. Do a little more reading and observing before entering the feather zone.

4–7 correct:
Cluck-worthy Contender! You’ve got a solid start, and with a bit more experience, you’ll be a broody boss in no time.

8–10 correct:
Broody Boss! You know your way around a nesting box like a seasoned flock whisperer. Your hens are lucky to have you!

Conclusion:​

Whether you’re just curious or deep in the fluff and feathers of broody hen life, this quiz gives you a peek into the quirky world of sitting hens. Share your score, your broody adventures (or disasters!), and your favorite hen mama stories.

View attachment 4182621

I enjoyed doing this test! I got several correct, even tho I’m a newbie!

 

[Squawkers]

Thank you very much! This makes sense, I will get to work setting up a brooding jail!

Of course! Glad I could help!

 

[User690263]

Are you sure that the answer for #7 isn't A? Because it seems like that's what will happen whenever I try to move a broody hen

 

[Squawkers]

Are you sure that the answer for #7 isn't A? Because it seems like that's what will happen whenever I try to move a broody hen

That’s too funny though honestly mine have never cared what I did to them while they were broody

 

[Squawkers]

What's the purpose of letting one sit on a nest without fertile eggs? Your hens won't be healthy and have a strong immune system if they don't eat and drink properly.Broody hens should be broke immediately

Technically true but I think it’s fair to understand that everyone’s situation is different. For me, I really couldn’t set up a broody jail. The only predator proof place I have is in my coop, which is way too small to set up a broody jail in. My garage and shed are both open to raccoons and I sure ain’t leaving my girls out in the open in a dog crate like that. They would be picked apart by raccoons reaching through the bars. I don’t have any other cage that is predator proof. I do agree with this statement, but I wasn’t gonna risk my girls safety with raccoons. Once I left my dog outside knowing he wouldn’t let any raccoons near my hen, but even that felt risky to me

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Question: Why set up a broody jail instead of just waiting until they stop by themselves? Is there some harm to letting them brood without intention of hatching?

You can. Put some food and water by them. Many give up in a couple of weeks.

Some however will brood until something hatches no matter how long. They can brood themselves sick. Those you may need to break for health sake, but they tend to be difficult to break.

I use my broodies, so I never break them as that causes sloppy broody habits.

 

[MamaPoult]

I got them all right. #8 cracked me up lol

 

[McChooky]

Technically true but I think it’s fair to understand that everyone’s situation is different. For me, I really couldn’t set up a broody jail. The only predator proof place I have is in my coop, which is way too small to set up a broody jail in. My garage and shed are both open to raccoons and I sure ain’t leaving my girls out in the open in a dog crate like that. They would be picked apart by raccoons reaching through the bars. I don’t have any other cage that is predator proof. I do agree with this statement, but I wasn’t gonna risk my girls safety with raccoons. Once I left my dog outside knowing he wouldn’t let any raccoons near my hen, but even that felt risky to me

Common sense prevails lol

 

[McChooky]

I expected my broody to wean her chicks at 4-5 weeks but all 5 of them follow her around like little chicks at 9 weeks old. She still clucks too...

 

[someonewholovesgeese]

Have you ever stared into the eyes of a hen who has decided it’s her destiny to become a mama? Welcome to the broody zone—a place of pecked hands, growling fluffballs, and unpredictable emotions (hers and yours). Whether you're excited, anxious, or just curious about how to handle a broody hen, this quiz is your ultimate test.

Let’s find out: Are you ready for the feathery rollercoaster of broody behavior… or are you headed for a bust?

QUIZ:​

1. Your hen suddenly refuses to leave the nest box. What’s your first clue she might be broody?
A. She's laying an egg a day.
B. She puffs up and growls when you come near.
C. She leaves the nest to eat and scratch.
D. She’s been there for an hour—must be tired.

2. You try to collect eggs and she pecks you. What do you do?
A. Leave her alone.
B. Wear gloves and grab the eggs anyway.
C. Respect her decision and let her hatch whatever’s under her.
D. Run. Just run.

3. How long does a broody hen typically sit to hatch eggs?
A. 10 days
B. 14 days
C. 21 days
D. 30 days

4. You don’t want chicks. What’s a good way to "break" a broody hen?
A. Put ice cubes in the nest.
B. Move her out of the coop.
C. Use a wire-bottom cage with food, water, and airflow.
D. Yell, “Snap out of it!”

5. Can a broody hen still lay eggs?
A. Yes, daily.
B. No, she stops laying.
C. Only every other day.
D. She lays twice as much.

6. You want to give her fertile eggs to hatch. When’s the best time?
A. Anytime—just toss them in.
B. Right at the start, within a day or two of sitting.
C. After 10 days of sitting.
D. Once she lays 10 eggs herself.

7. Can you move a broody hen and her nest?
A. Never—she’ll explode.
B. Yes, but carefully and during nighttime.
C. Only if she’s pecking other hens.
D. Only if she gives verbal consent.

8. A broody hen leaves the nest once a day to:
A. Sunbathe and do yoga.
B. Eat, drink, poop, and stretch.
C. Find more eggs.
D. Gossip with the flock.

9. You find her sitting on golf balls. What does this mean?
A. She’s learning to play.
B. She’s confused.
C. She’s in full broody mode and anything round will do.
D. You’re being pranked.

10. Should you let a first-time broody hen hatch eggs?
A. Only if she’s been trained.
B. Sure—some do great right away!
C. No—only experienced hens.
D. Yes, but only fake eggs.

---

Answers:​

1. B
2. B
3. C
4. C
5. B
6. B
7. B
8. B
9. C
10. B

---

How Did You Do?​

0–3 correct:
Hen-dangered! You're not quite broody-ready. Do a little more reading and observing before entering the feather zone.

4–7 correct:
Cluck-worthy Contender! You’ve got a solid start, and with a bit more experience, you’ll be a broody boss in no time.

8–10 correct:
Broody Boss! You know your way around a nesting box like a seasoned flock whisperer. Your hens are lucky to have you!

Conclusion:​

Whether you’re just curious or deep in the fluff and feathers of broody hen life, this quiz gives you a peek into the quirky world of sitting hens. Share your score, your broody adventures (or disasters!), and your favorite hen mama stories.

View attachment 4182621

got 9/10! number 9 got me but now i know