Do hens have false alarms?

[mrbstephens]

This morning I saw my laying EE in her nesting box. I had to go somewhere and wouldn't return for several hours. I figured I'd collect the egg when I returned, but when I checked the nesting box it was empty. I checked around the coop and found nothing. Last week she laid a soft shelled egg. I found it in the coop. Maybe she had another and one of the others ate it? Or do hens sometimes have false alarms?

 

[mrbstephens]

 

[animal_lover03]

Maybe one of your chickens ate it or maybe chickens do have false alarms.

 

[RL]

I've seen my BR pullet hop into the nest box sit there for an hour singing her egg song and not lay. So maybe they do or maybe it's just the young pullets that do.

 

[Kittymomma]

I think they do. I notice it more with my pullets then with the older hens. I think they're practicing. I'll see one of the girls in the box and then after awhile she'll leave and there won't be an egg. I've actually been out there a few time when they've left the empty nest (I spend WAY too much time with my chickens!) so I know they're not eating the eggs. Once a pullet was in the nest when I came out, left it and got into another nest, and when I came back out later she had left a lovely little pullet sized egg in the second nest

 

[PunkinPeep]

my pullet had lots of false alarms. but if i were you, i would also make a point of feeling gently on her abdomen from time to time to make sure she doesn't have something stuck.

 

[wombat]

They may have false alarms for a few days before laying, and might even try out a little egg song.

Do check and make sure she's not egg-bound, though.

Also - when they first start laying, they can be unusually skittish or agressive for a bit.