Do Broody Chickens Lay?

[John_Fredman]

I have a chicken that is showing signs of being broody such as puffing up and squawking when approached and sitting on eggs all day long (and night if I forget to collect the eggs). The only thing is that she is laying daily and I didn’t think broody chickens laid eggs. Am I wrong? Isolating in a cage usually works for me after 3 days but this doesn’t seem to be the right approach if she is still laying. Any suggestions?

 

[Ridgerunner]

The only thing is that she is laying daily and I didn’t think broody chickens laid eggs. Am I wrong?

There are many different signs that a hen is either broody or thinking about going broody. I've had hens exhibit those signs but never totally kick over to full broody ode. One acted that way for two weeks before she finally committed to being a full time broody. My test if a hen is truly broody and deserves eggs is that she has to spend two consecutive nights on the nest instead of in her normal sleeping location.

That test has not failed me yet but it easily could. I try to never say never or always, chickens just live to make a liar out of you. There are always exceptions.

In the normal course of events a hen stops laying when she goes broody. It takes nutrients to create eggs. Her body can't afford to incubate eggs for three weeks instead of spending a lot of time out looking for food if she is also creating eggs.

Not all chickens are normal. We often feed them really rich diets. They are domesticated, no longer feral, so some of their instincts could be blunted. I've never noticed a hen that has committed to being broody lay an egg. Hens that have not fully committed have laid eggs. Some people on this forum say they have had hens do that.

I'd classify that as highly unlikely but possible. I would not want a hen like that (a fully committed broody laying eggs) in my flock, it's just not natural. But one not fully committed I'd be OK with.

 

[David61]

Do Broody Chickens Lay?
No

 

[Trisseh]

As mentioned they’ll lay as they’re preparing to set. Once they’re committed to sitting on those eggs they don’t lay anymore though. So even if they take over someone else’s eggs, they should stop laying once they commit to sitting on them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I start breaking my hens as soon as they show any sign of broodiness. Often it's early enough that they still have an egg or two n the pipeline, so they end up laying in the broody breaker. Never had it become an issue, I just pick it up and eat it as I would with any other egg.

 

[Anne02]

I have a chicken that is showing signs of being broody such as puffing up and squawking when approached and sitting on eggs all day long (and night if I forget to collect the eggs). The only thing is that she is laying daily and I didn’t think broody chickens laid eggs. Am I wrong? Isolating in a cage usually works for me after 3 days but this doesn’t seem to be the right approach if she is still laying. Any suggestions?

How do you know she's laying?

 

[Caroline0615]

I have a chicken that is showing signs of being broody such as puffing up and squawking when approached and sitting on eggs all day long (and night if I forget to collect the eggs). The only thing is that she is laying daily and I didn’t think broody chickens laid eggs. Am I wrong? Isolating in a cage usually works for me after 3 days but this doesn’t seem to be the right approach if she is still laying. Any suggestions?

I want to know if they lay too HAHAHA

I have a feeling they do not because my broody hen OF OVER A WHOLE MONTH hasn’t given me any eggs so I’m thinking that’s the case and yes she is sitting on eggs but luck ISNT with her

 

[Laura_BelgianBantams_63]

This is how it goes down with mine:

• They find a good laying spot
• They lay eggs there for a while
• They stop laying and decide to go broody and be a mother

Then it's up to you to wean them off the eggs or else it just gets worse.

 

[LizzzyJo]

I want to know if they lay too HAHAHA

I have a feeling they do not because my broody hen OF OVER A WHOLE MONTH hasn’t given me any eggs so I’m thinking that’s the case and yes she is sitting on eggs but luck ISNT with her

Many people would suggest putting ice under here in her nest to break her. Being broody is hard on their bodies and can go on too long if not rewarded with a baby. In the summer, I would suggest dunking her butt in ice water.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

Are you SURE it is her that is laying eggs and not another hen adding her eggs to the nest? Unless the broody one is the ONLY hen with access OR the only one with a certain color of egg, I wouldn't think there would be any way to know WHO is the reason for additional eggs.