Is she trying to go broody?

[Mamatomany123]

I currently have 7 25 week old pullets. They are all laying. The last few days I've only gotten 5-6 eggs but considered that normal as they're new layers and 2 of the 7 are EEs. Well, the last couple of days I've noticed on of my production blues sitting in the nesting box for long periods of times. I was worried why it was taking her so long to lay. Well this morning she was in one of the boxes and I opened it not knowing she was in there. She screamed and puffed up at me. I thought MAYBE she just doesnt like being disturbed. She was in there for almost an hr until I opened up the gate to allow them to free range. I though "ok, shes finally done". Nope, no egg but she was sitting on one of the EEs. Well i just went to go check again and yet again shes in the box puffing and screaming at me. I pushed her over with a branch because she kept trying to peck me and sure enough, she was sitting on the other EEs egg and a brown egg (that may or may not be hers). Shes going broody, isnt she? If so, what do I do?this is my first time having chickens and I'm still learning.

 

[Sue Gremlin]

Sure sounds like it.

 

[MarkJr]

Toss her off her nest and take the eggs. If she’s there in the box vs roosting like normal, that pretty much verifies she’s broody. You then decide if you want to break her or give her some fertile eggs

 

[Luckylarson]

Do you want her to go broody?

 

[Mamatomany123]

Toss her off her nest and take the eggs. If she’s there in the box vs roosting like normal, that pretty much verifies she’s broody. You then decide if you want to break her or give her some fertile eggs

Shes roosting at night. I've made sure to check. I also took the eggs she was on and even moved the fake eggs to a different box than what shes in. But shes still in there. I've pushed her out and she just went right back in.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Do you want her to go broody?

No. We dont have a rooster and are already over our limit...by a lot. We're only allowed 4 and are at 11 right now.

 

[MarkJr]

If she goes full broody on you she will set overnight. When she decides that’s how far she will go..... then you decide how you want to proceed. Until she sets overnight, she’s just being a hormonal pain in the butt.

 

[Mamatomany123]

If she goes full broody on you she will set overnight. When she decides that’s how far she will go..... then you decide how you want to proceed. Until she sets overnight, she’s just being a hormonal pain in the butt.

Ok, so I'll continue to check her at night. If she does start sitting overnight then I put her in a dog crate off of the ground with food and water, correct? I believe that's what I've read here before.

 

[Mamatomany123]

And I'm not sure if shes laying or not. I'm only getting 6 out of 7 eggs and shes the only one sitting on everyone's eggs. Is it ok if shes not laying or is that something I should worry about?

 

[MarkJr]

If she roosts and sleeps with the flock, she’s not worried about maintaining eggs.
How is her health otherwise? Not being lethargic or weird, just focused on setting?