have a chicken sitting in the nesting box

[shannonunruh]

I have a chicken in the nesting box I got her in the beginning of February she has never layer an egg does this mean she's trying to lay an egg? I have 2 roosters in my flock of almost 30 and shes the only one in the box so far but the other girls are digging holes in the ground and laying in them and my birds are very mature so any help would be appreciated I got my flock all at the same time so they are all the same age

 

[drumstick diva]

What breed is she and how old? Some breeds have strong broody instincts, and they will sit on rocks, dirt of plain air, thinking they are going to hatch chicks. I'm wondering if this is what you hen is doing.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi

Glad you could join us here! I too agree that if she is staying in the nest all the time she may well be broody. Have a read of this article to compare her behaivour with ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/broody-hens

If she is not broody she may well be just getting ready to lay and just having a practice by going in the nest box. Putting some fake eggs in the box or boxes can encourage them to start laying in there.

Good luck with your flock in the future and enjoy BYC

 

[Cynthia12]

I agree with above thoughts...broody? Interesting if so, if she has never laid an egg. Guess they can go broody anyway...go to the site suggested.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC - you have some great advice already so I'll just say hello!

All the best
CT

 

[shannonunruh]

What breed is she and how old? Some breeds have strong broody instincts, and they will sit on rocks, dirt of plain air, thinking they are going to hatch chicks. I'm wondering if this is what you hen is doing.

 

[shannonunruh]

She is an Americana an I got her February 18th

 

[shannonunruh]

Hi

Glad you could join us here! I too agree that if she is staying in the nest all the time she may well be broody. Have a read of this article to compare her behaivour with ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/broody-hens

If she is not broody she may well be just getting ready to lay and just having a practice by going in the nest box. Putting some fake eggs in the box or boxes can encourage them to start laying in there.

Good luck with your flock in the future and enjoy BYC

 

[shannonunruh]

I have a fake egg in there to keep my hens from sleeping in there as they were sleeping and popping in their nesting boxing's

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!