I thought she was dead, till she blinked!

[WhenInRhome]

Still new to this chicken thing. Is my hen broody? My most flighty hen Pumpkin has been spending lots of time on a nest that is empty. She is always the most reluctant to come near us and never takes treats till the others have tried it first. She is also the biggest. Three days ago I went to check for eggs and she surprised me. She was laying in the nest when I opened the door to look for eggs. She did not move. She usually runs like crazy. I thought she was dead till I saw her eyes blink! I left her alone. The next day I went again and there she was again! I waited till she moved and I looked, no egg. Is that normal? She is out there again today, no egg.

 

[BittyBantamMom6]

It is quite normal. She wants to brood. I suggest that if you want chicks give her some fertile eggs and see how she does. If you don't want her to brood move her off the nest and with the rest each time you see her sitting on an empty nest

 

[BittyBantamMom6]

Also there is the chance she could be egg bound, but I'm not sure how to check for that

 

[BittyBantamMom6]

Also there is the chance she could be egg bound, but I'm not sure how to check for that

I looked around a bit and found info on egg binding in the BYC learning center. If you are worried about her being egg bound you could check that out

 

[WhenInRhome]

I took her off the nest once. She fluffed up and growled at me! Crazy chicken! I will go check into egg bound. I hope not!

 

[BittyBantamMom6]

I took her off the nest once. She fluffed up and growled at me! Crazy chicken! I will go check into egg bound. I hope not!

She is definitely broody since she growled at you. I'd say if you are willing to let her try hatching to give her some eggs to sit on and see how she does.

 

[fire370]

She's broody. I fight this in my cochin bantams, not so much in my big chickens. LOL, I've got a cochin right now that went from zero to crazy broody in the blink of an eye. Yesterday morning she was nuts, flogged my daughter because she pulled her off the nest and got out of the fly pen when my daughter was going out. She got into the milo in about 2 seconds. I actually wouldn't let my daughter go chase her and wrote her off for coyote supper. Well, she showed back up last night and was roosting on the front porch railing, so I snatched her up and she went crazy again. Growling, biting, squawking and trying to get away. She is currently in a suspended cage by herself and will remain there for a few days until she breaks.

 

[WhenInRhome]

She is definitely broody since she growled at you. I'd say if you are willing to let her try hatching to give her some eggs to sit on and see how she does.

We do not have any adult roos so no fertilized eggs. I always swore I would never get a rooster just because the thought of eating fertilized eggs freaks me out a bit. I am starting to want one now just so I can see one hatch some babies!

 

[BittyBantamMom6]

We do not have any adult roos so no fertilized eggs. I always swore I would never get a rooster just because the thought of eating fertilized eggs freaks me out a bit. I am starting to want one now just so I can see one hatch some babies!

You can always ask a local farm and get some or you can order eggs through tractor supply so you don't need to get a roo. Just remember to make a plan for chicks before they hatch, and remember there is a possibility of a roo or multiple roos hatching.