Broody?

[BonnieBlue]

I have two hens, just over a year old (there were three, but one recently died). One of the hens over the past couple of weeks, has taken to going into the coop a few times a day, and sitting for anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours. Not eggy, just sitting. Both have slowed down laying which I attributed to the heat, but even on days she isn't laying she just sits in a nesting box. She isn't sleeping there, but a couple of days ago, she got up well before sun up, and just went to sit.

I took the fake eggs out of the nesting boxes to discourage her. This morning, I. shut them both out of the coop because she was already going in there to just sit She laid late yesterday, so I know she won't lay today given her habits.

Is this a sign the is thinking about going broody? With only two hens, I really need her to not.

 

[sourland]

Doesn't sound like broody behavior to me.

 

[Yard Farmer]

She doesn't sound broody to me, either.

Check her belly, if she's plucking her feathers, she's trying to go broody. And if you had dummy eggs in there, I wouldn't be surprised if she was trying to sit.

 

[BonnieBlue]

Thanks.

I'll check for plucking and feathers.

 

[GlicksChicks]

It is a possibility she likes the temperature in there or how secluded it is. Maybe she likes some time alone.

I have had hens act the same way, definitely on hot days, and I will find them sitting in the nesting box, not laying, just sitting there. And they aren't broody.

It is hard to know what a hen is feeling or thinking because they can't tell you.

 

[BonnieBlue]

I have a small ac in the coop. I am able to keep it abouit 5-7 degrees cooler and 2-3 percentage points lower on humidity. That doesn't seem like a lot, but it has been hot and humid. I keep the pop door open, and they will both go in and just lay on the floor of the coop in front of the ac to just chill. It's pretty funny to watch them stick their heads out the pop door, then go back in. That I can read. "Nope, still too hot!"

I wish I could talk to them. I have a feeling they would tell me some stories!

 

[GlicksChicks]

I wish I could talk to them. I have a feeling they would tell me some stories!

I'm sure they would never stop talking!