Help - I have two hens that wont stop nesting!

[ainslieb]

Hi - I have two small hens that wont get off their eggs - they have been at it for nearly three days - no evidence of eating or anything - they are just snuggling next to each other, ignoring the other four in the coop and sitting on their eggs - should I do anything or just let them be?
cheers
ainslie

 

[Judy]

They are broody. Read up on broodiness. They can do this for months, weakening themselves, because they only get off the nest once a day to eat and poop. And they stop laying. They growl and fluff up if you come too near or try to remove them (I just pick them up anyway.) Simplest solution is give them a few fertile eggs to hatch or let them be broody for a few days then slip a couple of chicks under them at night. There are multiple ways to try to "break a broody" - one example is put her in a wire cage with air flow to her underside, no nesting material - often works in a day or two.