how to know when a hen wants to set eggsi

[Mawskittykat]

I am new so I have a question. Today I went to check my hens and one was on the nest but she wasn't laying an egg just looking at me. She stayed on it for quite a while but didn't lay but when she jumped down she went to cackling like she layed an egg. Was she just resting or is she wanting to set eggs.

 

[sourland]

Either she was resting or may be in the early stages of broodiness. When she is ready to set a clutch, she will stay on the nest overnight, scrunch down as if glued to the nest, fluff up and growl at you if disturbed, run around the yard clucking when off the nest, release an unmistakable broody 'poop'.