Help! Hen getting on and off the nest!

[silkieluva94]

I have a silkie hen who is getting on the nest for 2-3 hours and then coming off. At night instead of roosting she been nesting In the box (she usually roosts). Everytime I go to collect her eggs she is also puffing up at me and pecking. I replaced all her eggs with golf balls right before she started doing this. She is laying eggs regularly and normally stays in the nesting box an hour before laying an egg but yesterday no eggs just lengthy stays in the nesting box. I've checked her to make sure she isn't blocked and she's isn't. If she does go broody this will be her first time. I just don't know if she can't "decide" because it's new or if it's something else. Thanks for your help!

 

[Kelsie2290]

It does sound like she is going to go broody. Some hens do take awhile to make up their minds before committing, others will never really be "good" at it, just too inconsistent.... won't stay on the nest like they should, leave too often etc. If i want to put eggs under them I usually like to wait until they have been sitting good at least three days and nights. There are some good articles in the Learning Center on broody hens if you haven't seen them.