Laying on eggs

[Newfarmer36]

I have 4 chickens that lay eggs. A few weeks ago, a hen was laying on some eggs. She did that for about 2 weeks and then stopped all of a sudden.
Now, there's 7 more eggs in one of the laying boxes and the hens arent sitting on those. Why do they lay on some of the eggs and then not lay on others? And why, after laying on eggs for 2 weeks, did she stop? Thanks!

 

[Welshies]

Many young hens or young broodies aren't very good at brooding. They'll abandon eggs for no reason.
Also, broodiness isn't so much triggered by eggs but by hormone levels (so I've heard). Do you have a rooster? If not, she may not go broody again because the first batch didn't develop. It all depends. She may not brood if she doesn't feel her nest area is dark or protected enough.

 

[Newfarmer36]

Many young hens or young broodies aren't very good at brooding. They'll abandon eggs for no reason.
Also, broodiness isn't so much triggered by eggs but by hormone levels (so I've heard). Do you have a rooster? If not, she may not go broody again because the first batch didn't develop. It all depends. She may not brood if she doesn't feel her nest area is dark or protected enough.

I have 2 roosters. Unfortunately, I brought the eggs in after she stopped laying on them and went to make breakfast one morning and there were chicks in 7 of them. They had little beaks, legs, arms, eyes.... no feathers.. I felt horrible!!!

 

[Welshies]

I have 2 roosters. Unfortunately, I brought the eggs in after she stopped laying on them and went to make breakfast one morning and their were chicks in 7 of them. They had little beaks, legs, arms, eyes.... no feathers.. I felt horrible!!!

Are you certain she stopped? Many broody hens get off for part of the day to eat drink and replenish.

 

[Newfarmer36]

Are you certain she stopped? Many broody hens get off for part of the day to eat drink and replenish.

I think so.. I'm hoping so!! I had been looking everyday to see if she was up there and she was. Then for 2 days, everytime I looked, she wasn't there.

 

[Welshies]

I think so.. I'm hoping so!! I had been looking everyday to see if she was up there and she was. Then for 2 days, everytime I looked, she wasn't there.

What do you mean?

 

[Newfarmer36]

What do you mean?

Lol. I'm sorry. I know how to say things better than I can type them.
Usually, I collect all of the eggs. But one day, I went out to get them and a hen was laying on them so I left her alone. For 2 weeks after that, I kept an eye on her. I checked on her almost every hour to make sure she was still laying on them.(I was excited to have chicks) then one day, I went to check and she wasn't there. I checked quite often for 2 days and each time, there was no sign of her and the eggs were cold.

 

[Welshies]

Lol. I'm sorry. I know how to say things better than I can type them.
Usually, I collect all of the eggs. But one day, I went out to get them and a hen was laying on them so I left her alone. For 2 weeks after that, I kept an eye on her. I checked on her almost every hour to make sure she was still laying on them.(I was excited to have chicks) then one day, I went to check and she wasn't there. I checked quite often for 2 days and each time, there was no sign of her and the eggs were cold.

Hmm.. she most likely got scared off of them somehow.

 

[Newfarmer36]

Hmm.. she most likely got scared off of them somehow.

Come to think of it, this was on top of a filing cabinet. Right next to where the pig was coming out from under the trailer next door.

**these animals weren't mine. They were my neighbors before they left.**