Is she Broody? or just sitting

[2txmedics]

The other day my hen sat on an egg thought it was hers, wasnt...I took that egg after her pushing it under her a few times..then later she laid her own eggs...and I took it also...today she is sitting in the nest..there were two eggs in there, not hers...but one of my hens I guess broke it, by accident or on purpose and was eating the yolk...Smokey.

So my EE went back into that nest to I guess lay or brood...not sure she hasnt laid today. And that hen, Smokey wanted to be in there, they were both squeezed in there, and I took smokey out and she kept coming back in, my EE, kept getting angry with her and pecking at her...she is squatted own, and rocking...this is 3 days in a row I see this behavior, is she getting broody on me?

Also once an egg breaks and they eat the yolk, will they always do this? Smokey is being determined to be in that nest, eat whats left and then just sit!!!!

 

[SproutGirl]

I don't know if she is going broody, or if she is just looking to eat eggs. A broody hen gets a far away look in her eyes, almost as if she is sedated. If she gets that look, you will know that she is going broody. For now, it sounds like you have a big egg eating problem! Yikes!

 

[2txmedics]

well she was not the one eating the egg...it was Smokey the dark blue maran......my ee was sitting in there squated down deep and rockingand yes she had her wings all out like she was a foot ball player...doing the low low dance..and pushing her egg under herself...and the other before layed before her, possible another marans it was darkish brown, but not choc. deep brown.

But smokey would NOT get out of the nest box to let my EE (sunshine)...lay or brood.. I'd push her out of it...Smokey, leaving Sunshine (EE) in and she would go right back! There was not any room for her, and she would squeeze in and push all the way deep into the nest. Sunshine would get angry and peck at her...at times she was pushed in there so tight, she was pushing sunshine out to the front of the nest. Now Jewels on the right...nobody bothered her...

i took pics with my cell phone and Im trying to upload them

Squeezing in on the left side

I threw her out (Smokey on top)She is standing over the nest boxes trying to get back in...into the nest on the left

she is adament, smokey got back in with Sunshine...

And Sunshine, pecked at me when I tried to remove an egg, never has before...but after a while of talking to her...I was able to rub her back...slowly, but she would look at me like she was high...lol

 

[txchickie]

In my experience, some of my girls hang out on the nest for a while after they lay their eggs, but a potential broody is a little different. They spread themselves out (I have bantys and they get WIDE and flat!) and get a glazed look in their eyes, and all of mine will try to un-skin your arms if you make them move

If she is adamant about being in the box on the eggs (no matter who's eggs) and you DON'T want a broody, then I'd go ahead and try to prevent it now instead of waiting until she's really serious. That's a whole barrel of fun to deal with

 

[loverOFchickens]

Also broodys make this weird rrrrrr sound when you go to reach towards or under them.