Did I commit a serious foul-pas?

[loralei]

One of my extremely skittish Polish hens who is not laying yet just attacked me for moving her off another hens egg! My little Polish gals run when I even look in there direction but this morning when I moved this one she squawked LOUDLY! and pecked at me! What's that about?! Did I commit a serious foul-pas?

My gals are 22 weeks old and I am getting 4 or 5 colored eggs a day (no complaints tho!

) so I'm sure the Polish are not laying yet since they lay white eggs. Will a hen set another hen's egg?

 

[meriruka]

Sounds like your hen is broody. Not only will she hatch someone else's eggs, she'll sit on golf balls or corn cobs or even thin air and she will always be crabby if you try to move her or take what's under her.

 

[shaggy]

i agree ... that is text-book broody behaviour


faux pas (foe-pah)

french for "bad step"

 

[addy8]

Fowl pas-
A mis-step or error committed by an unwitting chicken owner. Usually followed by hand wringing, anxiety, and a quick post to BYC!

 

[ladrifter]

she may have been trying to lay an egg !

 

[loralei]

Yesss! That's it addy8!

Sure hope I didn't truamatize the poor darling by taking the egg from her though. Recently an egg got broken and they were all pecking at it so when I saw the egg in the run I wanted to get it out asap and didn't think about my girlies feelings.

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Quote:

 

[Ridgerunner]

Recently an egg got broken and they were all pecking at it so when I saw the egg in the run I wanted to get it out asap and didn't think about my girlies feelings.

Excellent move. You do not want them to learn to be egg eaters.

I have never worried about taking the eggs from them in their presence. They continue to lay in the same nest after they see me take the egg. I mark the pullets I catch laying as I am in the process of deciding which pullets I will keep for my laying and breeding flock. This involves seriously disturbing them while they are laying. They still go back to the same nest the next day or, if they have not finished laying, they will almost immediately go back and complete the task. Unless I have what I consider a good reason, I do not disturb them while laying, but it does not seem to bother them when I do.

Don't assume she is broody until you see her setting on the nest overnight. They are living animals and I guess it is possible for her to go broody before she has laid an egg, but I think it is extremely unlikely. However, a hen will definitely set another hen's, duck's, pheasant's, goose's, or golf pro's eggs.

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
Yeah!! I loved your play on words...hehehehe..