Do hens lay eggs when broody?

[lilbirdee]

I have a girl that has been broody for a week now. I'm trying to break her and she's been in the "chicken jail". I found an egg in there yesterday. And I've found eggs in there before when breaking a broody.
Is this normal? Or are they not really broody and I've incarcerated them wrongly?

 

[M To The Maxx]

Broody hens do not lay when they are broody.

 

[lilbirdee]

But if I let her out of jail she spends ALL day in a nesting box. That's broody right?

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

She might be trying to lay a clutch, and is preparing to go broody. Our silkie will do that.

 

[lilbirdee]

So I should keep her in the cage?

 

[lilbirdee]

Bump

Seriously. I need to know if I should set her free or keep her locked up until she stops hanging out in a nest.

 

[Southernbelle]

Generally, when they've gone broody and you put them in "jail," once they've laid an egg, they're over being broody. A hen who is truely broody doesn't lay eggs.

 

[Southernbelle]

Quote:
I'd let her go. Maybe block access to the nest for a while if she spends too much time on it.