how do you tell if hen broody

[Marans rule]

Im trying to get my hen to go broody but she wont sit on them. two of my hens sat there for about five hours and made strange noises but then she got up and went about her business as usual. Do you think she is starting to go broody? I hope so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[sweetappleacres]

I have a very similar situation! one of my hens (although I'm convinced more than one is laying) is laying eggs. They're all silkies so I shouldn't have an egg or 2 everyday, but as of right now I have 7 since last sunday. I've seen one laying and I got happy bc I thought she was finally brooding. But much to no avail, she was not. All she was doing was laying that 7th egg. Idk when or if she'll brood which is sad bc if she doesn't then those eggs are wasted eggs. I live in tx so the weather is HOT right now! I hope she feels she's laid enough eggs soon.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I'd take those eggs out and pitch them if they're more than a day or so old. Encourage them to keep laying everyday and collect eggs often. Store them in a cool place fat end up in an egg carton and turn them 3 times a day (mark an "x" on one side and an "o" on the other to keep track of turning).
Once you've collected enough fresh eggs to hatch, encourage your hens to sit. Put some golf balls or plastic Easter eggs in the nest box or wherever you hope they'll sit. Broodies are a little trickier than just popping eggs in an incubator, so keep collecting eggs until someone goes for it. Set the freshest eggs under your hen.
If you have Silkies, chances are good someone will oblige you. I have 4 Silkie hens right now and every single one of them has been broody at least once since they started laying. They all pretty much laid eggs for a month or so then set.

Good luck!

 

[sweetappleacres]

I think that's my best bet. I'll collect todays egg and store it in a carton. Don't they have to be angled though or laying on their side?

 

[TheTwoRoos]

What if the hen is just become broody?

 

[Excogitate]

The sound they make when broody:

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Any hen will scream at you.But most do not mak ethat pipping sound.