Is my hen going broody?

[Saris]

Newb here, I have a production red hen about 6 months old, has been laying for about 3 weeks now, and she keeps sitting on clutches of eggs for long periods of time. I usually end up getting a stick and pushing her off the nest so I can get my eggs for the day. She is on the nest for about 45 minutes before I push her off, once I collect the eggs she may sit for a bit longer but will usually go about her business as normal, I'm just wondering what would happen if I didn't shove her off the nest. Is it normal for some hens to just hang out on a nest after laying their egg? She always seems to have 5 or more eggs under her when I shove her off and makes dinosaur noises when I open the coop door. Is this a precursor to broodiness? She let's the other hens sit next to her and lay their eggs without a fuss.

 

[PerfectPlumage]

Newb here, I have a production red hen about 6 months old, has been laying for about 3 weeks now, and she keeps sitting on clutches of eggs for long periods of time. I usually end up getting a stick and pushing her off the nest so I can get my eggs for the day. She is on the nest for about 45 minutes before I push her off, once I collect the eggs she may sit for a bit longer but will usually go about her business as normal, I'm just wondering what would happen if I didn't shove her off the nest. Is it normal for some hens to just hang out on a nest after laying their egg? She always seems to have 5 or more eggs under her when I shove her off and makes dinosaur noises when I open the coop door. Is this a precursor to broodiness? She let's the other hens sit next to her and lay their eggs without a fuss.

It seems like she indeed wants to hatch those eggs. Do you have a rooster? If you do and you let her sit on the eggs she will most likely hatch them.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I have hens that don't like me reaching under them for eggs and will screech at me. They have never been broody. It sounds to me like she is just resting after laying.

The key to recognizing a broody is they will be on the nest at night. My broodies make this soft clucking sound while sitting. Their bellies can be plucked of feathers. (skin contact regulates humidity)

 

[Saris]

It seems like she indeed wants to hatch those eggs. Do you have a rooster? If you do and you let her sit on the eggs she will most likely hatch them.

I do have a rooster actually. I am just curious as to the likelyhood of her staying broody and whether I should try and move her or let her brood in her coop since winter is coming.

 

[Saris]

I have hens that don't like me reaching under them for eggs and will screech at me. They have never been broody. It sounds to me like she is just resting after laying.

The key to recognizing a broody is they will be on the nest at night. My broodies make this soft clucking sound while sitting. Their bellies can be plucked of feathers. (skin contact regulates humidity)

I will check on her over the next few day then, maybe leaving the largest eggs in there for her. I only reason I think it may be broodiness is she is super squished down in the nest when I check on her and stays like that until I push her off, the longest I let her stay was a little over an hour, then I wanted my eggs for breakfast, haha. most of the eggs are still small and wouldn't be good for hatching, so if she is trying I want to switch out the small eggs for some of my bigger ones from inside. I will try and get a picture of her sitting on them.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
If she is flat like a pancake, then she's likely broody. Check for her to be on the nest at night. I don't give my broodies any eggs until they are on the nest 2 consecutive nights.