Broody... that laid an egg?

[Lemon-Drop]

Hey there! I'm a little confused. My hen, Mochi, (who is a Silkie bantam, 1 year old) went broody (fluffed up, staying on the nest for a long time, making broody sounds) 3 days ago. The eggs aren't fertilized, so obviously she can't hatch them, so I put her in a broody "cage" in hopes of stopping the broodiness.

All was well, I thought she was still broody, but then she laid an egg in the broody cage, either today or yesterday. (I don't know when, I noticed it just a few hours ago)

Of course, I thought broody hens didn't lay eggs, so I let her back with the flock.

But then she went straight to the nesting box and was broody again. I took her out of the nesting box, set her on the ground, then went inside to make some cornbread. I come back out, and she is for sure! broody.

Should I put her back in the cage, or just let her sit for a while? Or just keep taking her out of the boxes and blocking the nesting boxes?

I think she tricked me into letting her out.

 

[All4Eggz]

I'm not sure.

Maybe a possibility is that she was still trying to collect eggs before she starts actually sitting?

 

[Lemon-Drop]

I'm not sure.

Maybe a possibility is that she was still trying to collect eggs before she starts actually sitting?

Maybe... its just got me confused. Usually the broody cage works great.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

It was pretty warm today... maybe she decided to go back to being broody because of that? Yesterday it was more cool.

 

[All4Eggz]

It was pretty warm today... maybe she decided to go back to being broody because of that? Yesterday it was more cool.

Yep. Maybe.

I'm really stumped!

 

[kerbotx]

My last broody laid 3 of her own eggs for her clutch. It would be better to say a broody hen stops laying after a certain point, prob by day 5, but with stopping & starting, that could change things. She needs to be in an elevated wire cage, with food & water, but no bedding. Some are harder to break than others; sometimes it's best to give them some fertilized eggs & let them have babies!

 

[Lemon-Drop]

My last broody laid 3 of her own eggs for her clutch. It would be better to say a broody hen stops laying after a certain point, prob by day 5, but with stopping & starting, that could change things. She needs to be in an elevated wire cage, with food & water, but no bedding. Some are harder to break than others; sometimes it's best to give them some fertilized eggs & let them have babies!

Thats good to know about it being elevated and wire. I currently have her in a cage with no bottom, so its on the dirt, but no bedding. (it has food and water)

I would LOVE to buy some hatching eggs and do a broody hatch but unfortunately my coop is at capacity... maybe if it was just a few more though....

Nope, its already pretty cramped in the coop (only 2.5 square feet per bird in the coop although some are bantams and they are only in there at night... but...)

 

[kerbotx]

Thats good to know about it being elevated and wire. I currently have her in a cage with no bottom, so its on the dirt, but no bedding. (it has food and water)

I would LOVE to buy some hatching eggs and do a broody hatch but unfortunately my coop is at capacity... maybe if it was just a few more though....

Nope, its already pretty cramped in the coop (only 2.5 square feet per bird in the coop although some are bantams and they are only in there at night... but...)

You could always sell the chicks, get a little side hustle going

 

[LateBirdFarms]

Thats good to know about it being elevated and wire. I currently have her in a cage with no bottom, so its on the dirt, but no bedding. (it has food and water)

I would LOVE to buy some hatching eggs and do a broody hatch but unfortunately my coop is at capacity... maybe if it was just a few more though....

Nope, its already pretty cramped in the coop (only 2.5 square feet per bird in the coop although some are bantams and they are only in there at night... but...)

The idea behind the elevated wire crate is that the air can circulate around and under the hen, literally giving her time to cool off. My silkie lady is an absolute holy terror right now with all her broody hormones, so I feel your frustration! Even after a week in the cage she's determined to stay broody, silkies can be serious sitters!

 

[yakitori]

i realized day 2 that trying to break my broody would be more work than just letting her hatch some