She could possibly just be passing a soft shell egg. Mine often stand around feeling sorry for themselves when they do. If she stays on the nest over night then she might be broody but 4 hours isn't enough time to tell. If she is still sitting tomorrow, put your hand towards her and if she puffs up, screams at you, or pecks you she is most likely broody.So, today I seen one of my hens anxious and she walked into the coop and just Layed on the ground and stood there for a hour or so. I grabbed some grass and stuffed it in her nest box she quickly got up and went into her nest box and started scratching at the grass and she soon settled down, she been on it for the past 4 hours, is she becoming broody!?
If she continues to sit, you've got a broody on your hands. Also, what breed is she?So, today I seen one of my hens anxious and she walked into the coop and just Layed on the ground and stood there for a hour or so. I grabbed some grass and stuffed it in her nest box she quickly got up and went into her nest box and started scratching at the grass and she soon settled down, she been on it for the past 4 hours, is she becoming broody!?
You don't have to sneak fertile eggs under them, they will take what they can find. They will usually nick eggs from another hen if she has the oppotunity to. If you just put one infront of her, she will roll it under.If she is just sitting on 'empty space," you could put some fertile eggs in her nest at night so she thinks they are hers. If she is truly broody she will sit until she hatches them and then shepherd them around teaching them what to eat and where to drink and how to be a chicken. If you don't have a rooster in your flock, you won't have fertile eggs unless you buy some.
