Could my Phoenix hen be broody?

[JPinVT]

My flock free-ranges, and for the past 3 days, Emmy the Phoenix hen has been disappearing for most of the day including at night - she doesn't go into the coop to roost with everyone else. I thought she had been taken by a predator, but my husband saw her outside the coop yesterday afternoon, so I know she's still around, but she was gone again by the time I got home from work. Could she be broody in the woods somewhere? If so, should I be worried that she was off the nest for about at least half an hour yesterday?

 

[featherz]

My guess is she has a nest stashed out there somewhere. I keep hoping my chickens don't decide to do that, as we have a LOT of woods to search!

 

[greenfingers]

She could be broody. You should try to find her nest and move her and the nest into a separate "broody box" w/small pen so she will stay on the eggs. It is OK for her to get off the nest for a while each day (in fact she should in order to eat/drink and poop). It is usually best to make the move just before dark. Good luck!

 

[JPinVT]

I'll have to try to find her this weekend. We have 11 acres of woods... and that's just our property - we're surrounded by probably 200 acres of woods. But I'll give it a shot for sure!