- May 28, 2012
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My six girls hadn't produced a single egg in about three days. I thought maybe the winter hours has finally stopped their egg laying and didn't think too much. Until this morning, when I couldn't locate the sixth girl. I found her laying on a clutch of eggs of about 16 where they sleep! She seems pretty protective of it (not moving off of it). But then, she went out to get some water and one of the older/more dominant hens was laying on the nest. The younger hen seems concerned but the older girl wont get off. However the older girl is keeping the eggs under her and appears to be turning them as well.
So my question is, do hens on a clutch of eggs just habitually turn the eggs even if they are not broody? I was really excited when I found her and she didn't move for about an hour. I went into "omg shes going to be have baby chickens and blah blah blah" mode, but now maybe she was just laying an egg and they just turn them instinctively?
So...thoughts? I will be watching them the rest of the day to see if Gabbie goes back, or if it was just a false alarm.
So my question is, do hens on a clutch of eggs just habitually turn the eggs even if they are not broody? I was really excited when I found her and she didn't move for about an hour. I went into "omg shes going to be have baby chickens and blah blah blah" mode, but now maybe she was just laying an egg and they just turn them instinctively?
So...thoughts? I will be watching them the rest of the day to see if Gabbie goes back, or if it was just a false alarm.