Broody or egg bound.. Help!

[ssbs]

I have a RSL that is about 15 months old.. I was out of town for a few days and returned to find Annabelle walking around all fluffed up and clucking oddly and constantly. We have 7 hens that usually lay daily but my sister had been collecting less than 7 eggs. Annabelle still seems very bright and alert but she spent most of yesterday and today in the nest box. She did come out to eat when I fed everyone. She's also pooping fine. I palated her and all I could feel was her gizzard. I know that as a commercial breed red sex links aren't normally broody, but does it sound like she is? I really hope she's not egg bound

 

[sourland]

Sounds as if she has gone broody.

 

[ssbs]

She's broody for sure. I got 5 fertile eggs from a friend so she can do her thing. With 6 other layers I didn't see a need to break her. Since she is a commercial breed what is the likelihood that she'll follow through and hatch the eggs?

 

[donrae]

I think you have a pretty good chance of getting chicks, if she's really ready to set. As a rule I wait until a hen has spent at least two nights in a row on the nest, that's my determination for a broody. I've had hens tease me with being on the nest most of the day, but off at night, so I've learned to wait. Most times, if they do 2 nights, you're good to go and they won't give up.

 

[Happy Chooks]

She should have no problem hatching the eggs. I've had a hatchery production red go broody. Sex links aren't a broody breed, but that doesn't mean you'll never get one to go broody. My production red is a great mama hen. Here she was last year with her adopted EE babies:

 

[ssbs]

Just wanted to let everyone know that a friend gave me some fertile eggs and Annabelle successfully hatched 3 chicks a week ago

 

[Happy Chooks]

Just wanted to let everyone know that a friend gave me some fertile eggs and Annabelle successfully hatched 3 chicks a week ago

Congrats!