Broody or Egg Bound?

[Chebird]

My Penedesenca has been in a nest box for three days, but she hasn't laid an egg. This is the most popular nest box where there are always a lot of eggs. How can I tell if she's eggbound or just broody? This chicken HATES being handled, but I will do it if necessary. She was a proficient layer until about four days ago when she started hiding out in the nest box.

 

[DobieLover]

My Penedesenca has been in a nest box for three days, but she hasn't laid an egg. This is the most popular nest box where there are always a lot of eggs. How can I tell if she's eggbound or just broody? This chicken HATES being handled, but I will do it if necessary. She was a proficient layer until about four days ago when she started hiding out in the nest box.

Take her out and see what she does.
Does head right back to the nest?
Does she screech at you when you reach in for her?
Does she start clucking like a ticking time bomb?
Is she more irate with the other hens?
Does she walk around like a turkey?
These are all signs of a broody.

 

[Chebird]

Yes, Tonya! That describes her exactly! We even checked her back end last night much to her dismay. Everything seemed fine.

 

[DobieLover]

Yes, Tonya! That describes her exactly! We even checked her back end last night much to her dismay. Everything seemed fine.

So now you know she's broody.
You now need to decide what you are going to do with her. She either needs to be broken and pronto or you need to let her set some fertile eggs.
If you want to break her, put her in a wire dog crate with NO bedding, WITH food and water and elevate it off the coop floor about 6 or 8" so lots of air can circulate around her. I'd leave her in there for a good 2 days and 2 nights then let her out on the third morning. Monitor her. If she goes back in the nest, put her back in the crate for another day and night. She will eventually snap out of it.

 

[Chebird]

So now you know she's broody.
You now need to decide what you are going to do with her. She either needs to be broken and pronto or you need to let her set some fertile eggs.
If you want to break her, put her in a wire dog crate with NO bedding, WITH food and water and elevate it off the coop floor about 6 or 8" so lots of air can circulate around her. I'd leave her in there for a good 2 days and 2 nights then let her out on the third morning. Monitor her. If she goes back in the nest, put her back in the crate for another day and night. She will eventually snap out of it.

Thank You!