Hen wont leave her nest

[rainyday1016]

Help! I have a hen that has not left her nesting box in several days. She appears healthy. I just don't know what is up with her.

 

[Mahonri]

She thinks she has eggs under her and that she's going to hatch them out for you.

Oft times it's called "Being Broody".

Check her breast... has she pulled out any breast feathers?

Does she growl a little at you when you put your hand under her?

If you take her out of the nest and put her on the ground does she puff out and get all clucky?

If she does, you've got a broody.

Get some fertile hatching eggs and in 3 weeks she'll raise some baby chicks for you!

 

[happyhens44]

Quote:
Yep I agree

x2

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Time for you to get hatching eggs and she'll hatch them for you (unless she changes her mind

)!

You might want to look up "broody" on this forum so that you can get advice about whether to give her a food and water dish nearby, separate her, etc. if she is getting picked on AND you are planning on her raising chicks.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Yup, and she'll be on the nest at night also.

 

[adbayer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZD4RUa1VD8

i have a broody gal on the nest right now ^^^^ and happened to tape her yesterday. she is my sweetest chicken, and also, the nicest i have when broody, lol.


i say get some eggs(im waitin on auctions to end on mine

 

[ChooksChick]

I've got a hen who only lays 6 or 7 eggs before resuming the zombie menace behavior.

 

[rainyday1016]

Thanks everyone for the responses. Where to get fertile eggs?

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
Tons of folks on here sell fertile eggs- look at signatures and at the auctions section of the forum in the index.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I'll take your broody right off of your hands - - - I have 15 hens and NONE of them will go broody for me !