Buff Orpington won't leave nesting box?? What could this be?

[Chicklalette]

Can anyone help me? My Buff Orpington doesn't seem to want to get our of the nesting boxes. It looks like she wants to lay an egg - but nothing - we did take her out of the box ans she did eat and drink some - then went back to the same nesting box. She looks "fluffy" - She has been in the nest for 2 days now - we think we checked to see if there was an egg - my husband and I felt her abdomen, we lubercated her vent and jsut inside her vent. Not sure how to see if thereis an egg "stuck" or what and where to feel.

Is this behavior - beginning to be Broody? or maybe eggbound?

We are new to chickens - She is 8mths old, Buff Orpington. We feed them Dumore crumbles, scratch, and they have access to plenty of calicum. We give then greens and fresh veggies as treats.

Any ideas? Please?

Thank you,

Kim

 

[FunnyFarmer]

Sounds like a broody to me. Give her some eggs!

 

[joletabey]

I would guess broody- is she a little irritated with you? From what I understand, many broodies will do a little growling or something.

 

[elmo]

I'd guess broody, too. Mine fluff up, screech and do what we call their "hissy fit" whenever someone approaches them in the nest box. We can lift ours out, and after a few moments they usually snap out of it and go about their business, but run back to the nest after a while. I've read that some broody hens will peck, though, so be careful.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Yup, she sounds broody.

 

[Tecalli]

I had the same behavior a few weeks ago with my blue orphington. If you don't have fertile eggs and don't want her to stay broody, this thread had excellent advice on how to break a broody hen. Worked like a charm for me:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=181289&p=1

 

[Bantimna]

Quote:
Orpintons, love raising families. She will like it if you allow her.........

 

[Bantimna]

Quote:
Tecalli, could I correct you that Orpington is spelled Oprington and not Orphington. Thank you and have a nice day.

 

[Chicklalette]

Thank you to everyone that took the time to help us out!

Last night - yup - confirmed! She, "Florence" - has gathered all the eggs up and is setting on them. Clucking, fluffing, hissing....

Is going broody bad?

What are the concerns that I need to watch for?

We took her out of the nest and brought her outside and made her walk around. She finally ate and drank - that was our biggest concern. She is a beautiful Buff Orpington - and funny - when we were rasing them from chicks - we both thought by her personality - she would be a good momma!

Thank you all again for your help!.... and for the help yet to come!

Kim, Tom & Florence

 

[sourland]

Bantiman, may I correct you? Orpington is not spelled oprington.