I can't tell if my hen is going broody or not

[Cyprus]

I have a second generation Easter egger hen. 1/4 Welsummer, 1/4 Ameraucana, 1/2 Brown Leghorn.

She lays an egg almost every day. Never in the coop, always in insulation, hay or blankets. She stays on the nest until as early as 12pm or late as 2-4pm. When I approach her, she squats on the nest and is very passive. I can touch her, the egg, whatever. As soon as I back up, though, she bolts. And she never sleeps in the nest.

She also has a very annoying history of often laying hidden nests of 12-25 eggs and trying to sit on all of them, all day.

Is she a wannabe broody or just a nest potato?

I actually want a broody hen but I can't seem to get her to fully commit.

TIA,
Cyprus

 

[ChickenCanoe]

She's not broody. Broody hens don't lay eggs. They lay a clutch and once the hormones kick in to set, they stop lying eggs.

 

[Cyprus]

Thanks

 

[chuckachucka]

Not broody but she might be slowly getting there. Some hens will gradually sit longer and longer on the nest after laying, over a few days or even longer period, before they stop laying and sit full time.