Broody or not?

[joelharris]

I have a 1 year old light sussex and have noticed it sat in the nest box all day like this:

it has got its body spred out and isnt standing up if you prod her instead she tries to peck you and and im wondering if shes broody.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

If she puffs up a bit and makes a different sort of sound when you prod her, then she is probably broody. Broody hens make different kinds of clucks - a bit lower in pitch.

 

[joelharris]

Ok thanks she isn't making much noise really so its hard to tell. Also I don't no because I've never had a broody before. If she is broody will she sit on some muscovey duck eggs?

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Ok thanks she isn't making much noise really so its hard to tell. Also I don't no because I've never had a broody before. If she is broody will she sit on some muscovey duck eggs?

She might sit on them. The sounds that a broody hen makes are not louder than other hens, just different. The pecking you describe is typical of broody hens.

 

[joelharris]

Ok Ill see if she's still siting in the morning.

 

[joelharris]

I went to let the hens out thismorning and she was still siting the same.

 

[joelharris]

This week i have moved my broody to a pen of her own and she has been sat on a fake egg, until today I set 4 muscovy duck eggs under her and have 3 in the incubator to compare which is better. Broody hens can be very vicious i had to wear thick welding gloves just to put the eggs under her LOL.