Hen brooding fake eggs?

[chikmagnet]

I have 6 sex-link hens that are about 20 weeks old. They are entirely free-range during the day, with acres to roam, so I've been concerned about their laying eggs in the brush where I can't find them, but one of them has been leaving eggs in the 6' x 2' roost box I close them up in at night. She was pretty upset when I removed the first one. which appeared about a week ago, but there have been 3 since and I thought she had gotten over it. I also built them a pair of nest boxes down below the roost, and I put plastic Easter eggs filled with sand in the boxes and in the roost to encourage everyone to leave their eggs there. This morning, when I opened up the roost, Clare was tenderly sitting on the plastic egg and wouldn't come out, so I took it away. Then she went down to the nest boxes and proceeded to sit down on those fake eggs, so I removed them as well. I assume this is what's called being broody, but it seems kind of early to be behaving this way. Is there anything I can do to discourage her from brooding, besides removing the eggs? I'm kind of disappointed that I can't leave the fake eggs out, because I'm not convinced the others are laying quite yet, and I want to get them in the habit of leaving their eggs in the nest boxes.

 

[chikmagnet]

No replies, not a very friendly forum--I guess it's because I can spell. I won't bother posting here again.

 

[deerman]

Yes sounds like she is broody, just remove eggs. Keep you other penned for a few days, the best way to see if any are laying.

 

[gottalovemychickens]

chickmagnet , you need to give it more time for ppl to respond . A lot of people work and cant be near the computer that much . You posted when everyone was going to work and again right when they got off

 

[Saladman]

Sorry that Chikmagnet is not a very patient subscriber! As mentioned by Gottalovemychickens, some others of us DO have another life that sometimes intrudes!
In my experience (65 yrs love affair with chooks) clucky (or broody) hens will try to hatch anything they can park their behinds on! By the way, Chikmagnet. Please be as forgiving of our spelling efforts . We forgive your rude dismissal.