Is my hen broody?

[Cocochicken]

Hi everyone! I have two hens, one rooster, so very possible I have fertilized eggs. One of my hens has been spending all afternoon and evening in the nesting box for the past two days. Yesterday my thoughts were that she is being broody. When I checked on her this morning she was up on the roost and the egg she’d been sitting on was ice cold (I live in Nova Scotia and temps at this time of year are pretty cold) and there was only one. Prior to yesterday, she spent a good portion of her days outside in the coop and I was consistently collecting one egg per day from her. Could it be possible that she is trying to hatch the one egg? She was off the nest all morning today, but again went on the nest around noon and is still there well past dark tonight. The other thing I might mention is that the egg in the nest this morning was slightly elongated (usually she lays rounder eggs) and very speckled (usually her eggs are not very speckled at all). Could this be an indication that she’s having trouble laying? Or that she’s broody?

 

[WindingRoad]

Hi everyone! I have two hens, one rooster, so very possible I have fertilized eggs. One of my hens has been spending all afternoon and evening in the nesting box for the past two days. Yesterday my thoughts were that she is being broody. When I checked on her this morning she was up on the roost and the egg she’d been sitting on was ice cold (I live in Nova Scotia and temps at this time of year are pretty cold) and there was only one. Prior to yesterday, she spent a good portion of her days outside in the coop and I was consistently collecting one egg per day from her. Could it be possible that she is trying to hatch the one egg? She was off the nest all morning today, but again went on the nest around noon and is still there well past dark tonight. The other thing I might mention is that the egg in the nest this morning was slightly elongated (usually she lays rounder eggs) and very speckled (usually her eggs are not very speckled at all). Could this be an indication that she’s having trouble laying? Or that she’s broody?

How long has she been laying? If not for long she could just be working out the kinks in the egg production factory.

 

[Cocochicken]

She’s been laying for between 3 and 4 months now. She’s never behaved this way before though. So you don’t really think she could be broody over one egg?

 

[ChickNanny13]

It's possible the egg belongs to the other hen?
A hen would not set (stay on the egg) until she's done laying the "clutch". Even then they will leave the nest to eat, drink & poop at least once a day and return to setting. Going broody with only one egg can happen, what breed is she?

 

[Cocochicken]

She is an Australorpe....apparently according to this article a quite “broody” breed
http://www.allaboutchickens.info/broody-hens-guide/
I am taking the chance and have placed 8 more eggs under her.
The egg definitely belongs to her though. I only have 2 hens and their eggs are very different from each other.

 

[Cyprus]

She is an Australorpe....apparently according to this article a quite “broody” breed
http://www.allaboutchickens.info/broody-hens-guide/
I am taking the chance and have placed 8 more eggs under her.
The egg definitely belongs to her though. I only have 2 hens and their eggs are very different from each other.

My Australorp did the same about a week ago.
I call her the faker.

 

[Kale Chips]

It's totally possible that your chicken is broody! It doesn't matter if it is just one egg, a chicken will try to hatch anything (some dirt, a couple rocks, etc), and if there is nothing to hatch, then she'll just sit in the box anyway. Some chickens don't make good broody moms, and they may leave the nest or break from their broodiness half way through. Broody hens DO leave the nest to eat, poop, and run around about once a day, but a broken hen will sleep on the roost and spend the day outside. If you want to let her try to hatch a chick, then I would say go for it (keeping in mind weather and coop set-up). If you don't want her to hatch a chick, then it's best to 'break' her so that she doesn't hurt herself. Sitting for no reason is not wise, as it can starve, dehydrate, and even kill chickens if let to go too long. There are many forums out there for what you can do to break a hen as well as things you can do to keep your hen prepared to hatch a chick. Whatever way you go, it is bound to be an adventure!

 

[Kale Chips]

Oh no! I didn't see that you had posted that you placed 8 more eggs in the nest! I am excited for you and hope for the best!

 

[Cocochicken]

Oh no! I didn't see that you had posted that you placed 8 more eggs in the nest! I am excited for you and hope for the best!

Here’s hoping!

 

[chickens really]

Is it cold there? Many times Hens will cuddle up to rest in a nest of eggs and not be Broody at all.. I give them a couple of days to commit to being Broody before I give eggs. I have a Silkie now that is committed and on 5 eggs.