Broody or Egg Bound?

[jburd]

Hello Folks!

I've got a 1-year-old BR hen named Rita who has been one of our most consistent layers since the group has started laying. Her eggs were often the largest of the bunch and sometimes a tad misshapen, so I've been on the lookout for egg binding in her since day 1.
Well, for the past two days now she has been sitting in her favorite nesting box and I don't think she is producing anything (I removed two eggs from under her last night and I don't think either were hers). This afternoon I physically removed her from the nesting box and sat her on my lap for a while. She stayed there for a long time - which is quite unusual for her. I felt around her vent and abdomen and could not feel an egg in there. It also did not feel swollen or fluidy like I've felt in birds with egg yolk peritonitis. Her crop was completely empty, however, so I put her on the ground and shooed her out the door. She ate with gusto, preened herself, chased some bugs, engaged with her flock-mates, and about 30 minutes later I found her back in the box again.
I was quite worried about egg binding. Then I read a few posts about broodiness and I guess I'm hoping that's what's going on with Rita rather than the alternative. What does it sound like to you folks? Any other suggestions?
Thanks! =)

 

[Judy]

Does she usually sleep on a roost? If she is broody she will stay in the nest all night. Broodies also usually have a "growl" when you approach their nest bos, are more likely to peck at you if you reach for them, and they will sort of puff up and flatten out when you pick them up and set them on the ground. I always have to prod them a few times to get them moving around and eating. Of course they go back to the nest in usually 10 to 20 minutes. Of course she might stay in the nest because she doesn't feel well, too.

 

[jburd]

Thanks Flockwatcher!
She normally roosts, but she has been staying in the nesting box the past two nights. She does growl at me when I come in the coop and the growl turns into a sort-of shriek when I approach her nesting box. She also tries to peck me when I reach in her nesting box, but that's not new behavior for her . . . Rita has always been exceptionally feisty! =P I have noticed that she seems extra-puffed up and when I put her on the ground she flattens out, just like you mentioned. After some gentle prodding she will run off, eat her fill, and then return to the same nesting box after about 10 minutes.
I will keep a close eye on her, but from what I can tell she does not seem sick. Once she is out of that box she behaves normally, then returns to the nesting box and sits. Most of my chicken experience is with RIR's and Leghorns and I have never experienced one of them go broody before. Will she come out of her broodiness after a while or do hens usually need to be "snapped out of it" somehow?
Thanks again!