hen only broody at night??

[blkcloud]

I have about a dozen eggs in a nesting box, all 5 of my hens are laying in it..at night one of them will go in and cover the eggs like she is broody..but..the next morning she is off and scratching around like all the others.. she never returns except at night, will this cause me to have a batch of half incubated eggs?? thanks!!

 

[Tuffoldhen]

yup...she isn't broody...they won't be any good if she just does this at night...not for eating either....when a hen is really broody she will set all the time day and night only getting off long enough to eat,drink and poo once in awhile...she puffs up and growls......

 

[bantymum]

Some chickens like to sleep in the nesting box, my goldilocks always sleeps on eggs, perhaps yours isnt really broody?She shouldnt get off all day if she is. she will sit firm!

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, she's not broody, just has a bad habit.

 

[blkcloud]

will the eggs still hatch if she does happen to become broody?

 

[Tuffoldhen]

My opinion..you can leave them for a few days...date them and then if it doesn't look promising...throw those and add new ones but date them...after 10 or so days if she is not setting they are going to be bad and rot....