Can broody hens lay?

[maceleneo]

Hi, in the last days my OE Edgar went broody. I let her sit on wood eggs for a couple of days and on Monday I marked 10 eggs, gave them to her and I tried to let her in the nest she chose in the main coop, but she's low rank and other hens kept harassing her because she was occupying their favorite nest, so I moved her in a little pad where I sometimes keep broody hens. Everything went smooth, she keeps sitting on the eggs and she seems super broody. Here she is: she's all puffy and hates everyone in the world (but her eggs!)!

This morning I noticed she didn't touch the food, so I put her outside to let her stretch her legs, hoping she would eat and drink, poo and everything. This has always worked with my previous broodies. Well, she didn't. She sat where I put her for a while and then went right back in her nest, where I noticed that eggs are now 11! How is this possible? I thought broody hens couldn't lay, can they? I'm 100% sure that's her egg: she's the only one who lays that color and this pad is separated from other hens. Is it possible that she wanted hatch her own egg? I know this sounds stupid, but I don't know what to think. Maybe broody hens who lay are more common than I thought, but I never heard about it!

 

[Fwoof]

Hi, in the last days my OE Edgar went broody. I let her sit on wood eggs for a couple of days and on Monday I marked 10 eggs, gave them to her and I tried to let her in the nest she chose in the main coop, but she's low rank and other hens kept harassing her because she was occupying their favorite nest, so I moved her in a little pad where I sometimes keep broody hens. Everything went smooth, she keeps sitting on the eggs and she seems super broody. Here she is: she's all puffy and hates everyone in the world (but her eggs!)!View attachment 3456377
This morning I noticed she didn't touch the food, so I put her outside to let her stretch her legs, hoping she would eat and drink, poo and everything. This has always worked with my previous broodies. Well, she didn't. She sat where I put her for a while and then went right back in her nest, where I noticed that eggs are now 11! How is this possible? I thought broody hens couldn't lay, can they? I'm 100% sure that's her egg: she's the only one who lays that color and this pad is separated from other hens. Is it possible that she wanted hatch her own egg? I know this sounds stupid, but I don't know what to think. Maybe broody hens who lay are more common than I thought, but I never heard about it! View attachment 3456393

It's not usual that broodies lay eggs, but it's completely possible! There is a chance she'll stay broody for as long as it takes to hatch her chicks, but there is also a chance she'll stop early. If you want your eggs to hatch, either pop them in the incubator (if you have one) or under another broody hen (if there is one).

 

[Yard Farmer]

It's not usual that broodies lay eggs, but it's completely possible! There is a chance she'll stay broody for as long as it takes to hatch her chicks, but there is also a chance she'll stop early. If you want your eggs to hatch, either pop them in the incubator (if you have one) or under another broody hen (if there is one).

I 2nd all this!

 

[fluffycrow]

Another broody girl huh ? Yup, it's possible. Not too common. My guess is that she'll stop laying after a while and then sit normally. Good luck with her!

 

[maceleneo]

Sadly I don't have an incubator. I hope she will sit on her own egg until it hatches even if all other eggs have hatched, the difference is just a couple of days.
Other hens could go broody by the way. Let's see what happens!
Thank you all for your opinions!

 

[Fwoof]

Sadly I don't have an incubator. I hope she will sit on her own egg until it hatches even if all other eggs have hatched, the difference is just a couple of days.
Other hens could go broody by the way. Let's see what happens!
Thank you all for your opinions!

You're welcome! Good luck with your hatch!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I thought broody hens couldn't lay,

Typically broody hens don't lay eggs. Most of what they live off of while broody is stored up fat so they don't have to spend time off of the nest looking for food and water. To use some of that fat to create an egg is not good for the survival of the fittest. But you don't get guarantees with living animals, no matter what is typical there can always be exceptions. This appears to be one if those exceptions since you are sure it is her egg. Hopefully she will stop laying but obviously a broody hen can lay an egg, it is just extremely rare.

 

[Mrs. K]

I just would let her set without taking her off the nest. The less you do with them, the more successful they are, I think.

I move mine off the nest about every three days - give or take, just so I can check the egg count.

Mrs K

 

[maceleneo]

I really hope she'll stop laying and spare her resources. I wouldn't know what to do with semi-brooded eggs when the first clutch hatches if she leaves the nest with her chicks and there are no other broodies!
This morning she finally ate something, pooped and even dustbathed. Eggs are still 11, I guess I leave her quiet for a couple of days: she has food and water in her pad (far from the nest, so she needs to stand up to drink and eat), she just doesn't seem to move if I don't take her off the nest: in the pad I couldn't find any feces, but the nest is clean, so maybe she knows what she's doing!

 

[Mrs. K]

She knows more about it than either you or I do. Leaving her alone is the hardest part, but really the most important part.

Not all the eggs will hatch, and sometimes a chicks will die after hatching. That is normal natural selection. You are not to blame, it is not your fault. Just be happy for the live ones.

Mrs K