Is my hen broody?

[maddyaugust]

The night before last one my buff Orphingtons went into a nesting box instead of the roost for the night, the next morning she left for a short time but returned to box. I thought she might be eggbound and gave her a hot bath, eventually around 2 in the afternooon she lay an egg which I took from the box. She stayed in the box for the rest of the day and night. This morning I thought she might be sick so I decided to move her into a separate crate. When I took her out of the nesting box, she looked pretty healthy so I put her into the run - she ate and drank although she seemed a little more aggressive then usual with other chix. Less then half an hour later she's back in the nesting box.

I have no roosters !

recommendations please

also she's 1 year old

 

[Pork Pie]

Sounds very much like she is broody. Guess you have 3 choices - either get some fertile eggs for her to set, break her broodiness (search "broody buster") or let nature takes its course - she'll snap out of it eventually. Personally i prefer to break broodiness, but many members simply leave them to sort themselves out. But hatching chicks is a lot more fun

CT

 

[maddyaugust]

thanks CT, the more I read about broodiness, the more I think this is what's going on

 

[Pork Pie]