Is she broody

[Rstine]

My silkie hen is just under a year old and has just recently started laying. I hadn't had any from her in a few days but wasn't too concerned because I understand that they aren't very prolific. Yesterday I discovered 4 eggs buried in the straw. None of my other hens have ever buried eggs. Is this what they do prior to sitting or is this just another quirk of funny little silkie?

 

[ChickNanny13]

If she was broody, she'd stay sitting in her nest most of the day. When approached she'd "defend" her nest. I think your Silkie is just hiding her eggs but I don't know Silkies ...

 

[JaeG]

Hens don't tend to worry about the eggs until they decide to sit, then they'll be stealing them wherever they can find them and carrying them back to their chosen nest under their wings. Broodies will also sit on nothing and be just as serious about their job.

It's the site they choose rather than the eggs that's important to them. If you try and move a broody and expect her to sit on her eggs on a new nest she won't have it and will try to get back to her original site. If you have to move her you do it just after dark so that she wakes up in her new spot and cannot see her old coop or run as she will try to get back there. Even then some hens know the difference.

My girls will lay on the coop floor if the favourite nestbox is currently in use! Thats despite the other three perfectly good nestboxes!

 

[Rstine]

Dang, I was hoping she was getting ready to sit. I want some silkie chicks.

 

[JaeG]

Dang, I was hoping she was getting ready to sit. I want some silkie chicks.

She's a Silkie - it won't take her long to decide she wants to be a mother. The first time our Silkie went broody (we can't hatch where we are) she did it in the corner of the run! During a summer storm I had to go and rescue her and lock her in the coop as she was getting soaked!

 

[Chickens like to peck me]

i think its just a quirk sorry if she dose hatch chicks i'm surety will be cute