Is my hen broody or should I be a little worried?

[19hhbelgian]

I have had my black australorps for a few months now, and they've been wonderful. Laying well, and happy. Yesterday I noticed one of the girls was staying in the nest box. I checked on her at night - still in the box, not roosting with the others. This morning into tonight same thing. She's sitting there all fluffed up. I was petting her and she wasn't agressive or anything, but did make a grumbling noise. If she is broody what can I do for her... besides getting some hatching eggs

!! I hate to ruin her natural instinct to sit, but she's going to be disappointed when the egg starts to get stinky as we don't have any roosters!

 

[Bailey1234]

How to break a broody? A lot of people are freaking out that you would think of such a thing. lol. Cool bath, wire cage, nothing soft to make a nest with. Move her from the box and don't let her back in.

 

[19hhbelgian]

I don't want to make her stop being broody

, in fact, if that's what's going on, I would love to get some eggs for her to sit on! How long will she do this, and would I have time to get eggs for her to try and hatch out? Also, would she accept "foreign" eggs? Thanks!! Like I said, I'm new into this, and have never had hatching eggs... My ducks did everything on their own, including fertilizing the eggs (I never had to add any that would actually hatch

)

 

[Lollipop]

Best article on broody hens........

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

 

[imtc]

I'm kinda wondering how long they stay broody if they try to hatch unfertilzed eggs too. I have 2 hens right now that haven't layed in a couple weeks and spend the bulk of their day wedged together on the same nest sitting on my other 3 hen's eggs so yes...they will try to hatch foreign eggs. Anyone know how long they will stay broody without intervention and/or don't have fertilzed eggs to sit on? (I still collect my eggs everyday from under them).

 

[lovemychix]

Get her some eggs!!

I want mine to sit!