IS SHE SICK, OR JUST ROOSTING?

[kbroom]

One of my youngest girls is sitting in her nest ALL DAY EVERY DAY THIS WEEK! I thought that maybe she was dying. I left water and food for her, and she's eating it. One day my crazy dog, who has to wear a muzzle outside because she loves to chase them, chased her out of her nest area, in the garage, which happens to be one of their favorite spots for laying their eggs (I know.) Bubbles ran all over the yard, and certainly didn't appear to be hurt. Next thing I know, she was sitting back on her nest! She appear motionless, but squawks if I touch her. I was wondering where the eggs of my other 6 girls went. One time, Bubbles got up from her next, and there lay a clutch of six beautiful eggs. They weren't all hers. In order for the eggs to get there, she had to have gotten up long enough for each bird to lay her egg. Then, she sat down on them. I removed them, when I saw them. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

One of my youngest girls is sitting in her nest ALL DAY EVERY DAY THIS WEEK! I thought that maybe she was dying. I left water and food for her, and she's eating it. One day my crazy dog, who has to wear a muzzle outside because she loves to chase them, chased her out of her nest area, in the garage, which happens to be one of their favorite spots for laying their eggs (I know.) Bubbles ran all over the yard, and certainly didn't appear to be hurt. Next thing I know, she was sitting back on her nest! She appear motionless, but squawks if I touch her. I was wondering where the eggs of my other 6 girls went. One time, Bubbles got up from her next, and there lay a clutch of six beautiful eggs. They weren't all hers. In order for the eggs to get there, she had to have gotten up long enough for each bird to lay her egg. Then, she sat down on them. I removed them, when I saw them. Has anyone else had this problem?

She sounds like shes broody. Shes sitting on a nest, that may or may not have eggs in it, and hoping to hatch chicks.
Definitely keep giving her food and water, thats a really good idea!
When you touch her, she squawks because broodies are very, very territorial. She might try to peck you too.
I've seen hens move eggs from one nest-box to another, which is probably what she did-broody hens tend to dislike moving from their nest.

You have a few options as to what to do: You can let her sit it out, and she will eventually stop being broody
You can give her fertilised eggs, and let her hatch them- only if you want chicks
Or you can 'break her broodiness'. (I don't have experience on this, so i unfortunately cant advise you how, maybe someone else can )

 

[kbroom]

Thank you for letting me know these things. This is my first experience with this. And I thought it was unusual because she is one of my youngest. My older birds have not done this yet. She's the only one so far, and she's not even a year old. I believe she's about 8 months old.
I'd like to break this process, because it's starting to get cold, and I have no heater in the garage for her. I keep them inside an inner coup that is inside a pen. The inner coup has two heaters on either end for cold nights. Yes, they're spoiled, but they ARE my babies.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

I thought it was unusual because she is one of my youngest. My older birds have not done this yet. She's the only one so far, and she's not even a year old. I believe she's about 8 months old.

In my experience, age doesn't really matter! What breeds are they? Certain breeds are less prone to broodiness than others.

I'd like to break this process, because it's starting to get cold, and I have no heater in the garage for her.

That’s understandable
Again, i have no experience in this, but blocking off the nest-boxes from her and even putting her in a broody 'jail' -with food and water- could help. Here are some articles: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/broody-breaking-ala-aart.77915/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-break-a-broody-hen.65588/

Yes, they're spoiled, but they ARE my babies.

Of course! My chickens are spoilt too, and i always want the best for them!
Good luck!

 

[kbroom]

The one doing the brooding is an Easteregger. She lays Army green eggs. The kind on those "Green eggs and ham" advertisements? Ha, ha. Seriously, her sister, Peanut, is not brooding, and an old EE I have by the name of Joy is doing just fine. She's the only one.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

The one doing the brooding is an Easteregger. She lays Army green eggs. The kind on those "Green eggs and ham" advertisements? Ha, ha. Seriously, her sister, Peanut, is not brooding, and an old EE I have by the name of Joy is doing just fine. She's the only one.

Easter eggers rarely go broody, as they are bred for laying lots of eggs. Maybe thats why

 

[Yardmom]

Broodiness is about hormones. The years and years of breeding have made it so many domestic chickens never go broody, but a few still do. The other hens like to lay where other eggs are. They will climb into a nest with a broody to lay.
Read the articles above. Breaking a broody is about making sure they can not sit on eggs or any comfortable spot. Especially the ones where they tried to sit. Broody breaker cages seem to work the best for people.