Cochin sitting on empty nest - normal or ill?

[HamorHollow]

I have a 10 month old full size cochin who is spending most of the day sitting in her nest box. She seems to be eating (gobbled up some bread yesterday when she was in the yard) and she jumps out of her nest box for short periods but always returns. She usually lays daily to every other day, but today was day 3 w/o an egg. This is day 4 of the behavior, on day 1 she laid an egg after sitting in the nest for several hours. I removed her to get to the egg since she generally doesn't stay on the nest that long. She also pecked at me, which isn't normal for her, like she was protecting the next.

I do not own any roosters, although she had been caged with roosters when I initially got her about 3 weeks ago. Everyone else in the flock is acting completely normal.

I cannot feel any stuck eggs, and her tush looks normal.

I plan to do a preventive worming with the whole flock.

Should I worry?

Kelly

 

[ourlittleflock]

not an expert on BYC by far and hopefully someone else will way in - but I would say she is broody..

 

[LadyinRed]

She is broody for sure.

 

[bantyshanty]

Pretty sure she's broody....ditto.

 

[Chickengal505]

Hens sit on empty nest boxes all the time its normal!!!

 

[HamorHollow]

So does she think she sitting on eggs? Is it a chicken hormonal thing? Should I do something or just let it play out?

Thanks and sorry to be such a noob!

Kelly

 

[kudzu vine]

I know this works for me. She'll "sit" trying to hatch imaginery eggs for up to 3 weeks and won't lay until the time is up (usually 21 days). I put my "broody" hen in a separate cage, with food and water, and place her where she can see the others. At night, I put her, in the cage, inside the chicken house and back outside the next day. Do this for three whole days and nights then turn her loose. My Grandmother did this and it always works for me. In fact, I have one now on her thrid day. If she was laying before this, it may take another week or so for her to start laying again.

 

[lavendergirl]

I have an Orpington that seems to be trying to lay an egg with no success. Sits in the nesting box all day with brief forays out for food. Seems to be in distress and having contractions. She normally lays 1 egg a day. This has been going on for 5 days . Is this a medical emergency?

 

[HamorHollow]

Lavendergirl: Start a fresh thread so your post gets noticed.

Unfortunately I dont know how to determine if a hen is egg bound.

Kelly

 

[matthewschickens]

Quote:
x2 I LOVE broodys