Hen staying in the egg box.

[TomGallopavo]

I have a BO hen that slept in the egg box last night and tonight. Yesterday she did leave the coop in the morning but today I took her out to see if an egg was stuck but her vent looked normal and I could not feel any eggs in her belly. I put her on the floor but she got right back in the egg box. I do not have problems with chickens sleeping there. She also has lost some color in her comb and just looks a little weak. There is no more droppings in the egg box than normal. I'll have more time after work tonight to take a closer look but any ideas on what might be her problem? Thank You!

 

[Kismet]

Is she broody? In other words, does she want to sit patiently for 21 days and hatch some eggs? If you have some fertile eggs, stick some under her. Perhaps you'll have some chicks in a little while.

 

[Wigggy]

Agreed she sounds broody ^

 

[Lollipop]

Well Tom, if she spends another night in the box, I'd say you have a broody hen. You can either give her some fertile eggs, or just let her be and she will eventually get back to her normal self. Bear in mind, some broodies will set on an empty nest for a month or more, but if you don't want chicks, that's the better route. Some folks will recommend breaking her and that can be done, but not my preferrence.........Pop

 

[math ace]

Does she Growl and raise her hackle feathers when you try to mess with her in the nesting box?

If yes, then she is broody.

IF no, then she may be sick and is hiding in the dark security of the nesting box.

 

[TomGallopavo]

Thanks everybody! I don't know why I didn't think of that...because I have never seen it I guess. I have 7 eggs under her and I hope we have some chicks in three weeks. Dumb question but, will she take care of them as well?

 

[gryeyes]

Thanks everybody! I don't know why I didn't think of that...because I have never seen it I guess. I have 7 eggs under her and I hope we have some chicks in three weeks. Dumb question but, will she take care of them as well?

As a general rule, if a hen goes broody and makes it through the 21 or so days to hatch the eggs, she will care for the chicks as well. But individual hens are like individual people - some are not very good mothers. Also, first time broodies - obviously - have no experience in raising chicks, and while it may be instinctual, actual practice is what makes 'em better at it. With that said, my very first broody pullet is an excellent mommy and she has raised 4 batches of chicks. Her third set was decimated by a neighbor's dog.... She trusted MY dogs too much. For her fourth set, she kept them away from my dogs, which is a thinking process I found pretty amazing. She just didn't want her babies to get too used to dogs when they were so vulnerable. That's not to say all first time broody hens are great mommas. But you would be surprised at how well they do without any parenting handbooks!