Leghorn sleeping on eggs: new hen, not pullet

[Backyardchickengirl]

My 3 leghorn pullets have just become hen age. I just checked to make sure all 3 girls were on their roosting bars in the coop for the night (9:10pm) Only 2 were on the roosting bars for bedtime and 1 is sleeping on the eggs I'm trying to collect! So far there has been no change in egg production, but this is a first for me. Any help, expertise and experience is helpful. Thank you! Oh, 1 other change since last summer when I got them is that; they are digging daily holes to beat the heat. See pic.. I've been providing chilled watermelon chunks, but my main concern is making sure this hen hasn't gone broody..

 

[Sapphire Sebright]

Sounds like she might be wanting to hatch a brood. However, sometimes a hen will sit on the eggs for a long time every day, but not go broody....
Gather the eggs daily, and don't let them pile up. If she sleeps on the eggs at night, too, then try putting her on the perch before you close them in for the night.
Good luck with her.

 

[aart]

My 3 leghorn pullets have just become hen age.

So 1 year old?

These are my go to signs of a broody:
Is she on nest most the day and all night?
When you pull her out of nest and put her on the ground, does she flatten right back out into a fluffy screeching pancake?
Does she walk around making a low cluckcluckcluckcluckcluck(ticking bomb) sound on her way back to the nest?
If so, then she is probably broody and you'll have to decide how to manage it.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

How we beat the heat:
Deep all day shade is best but....

I give a dose of Sav-a-Chick electrolytes/vitamins about once a week during heat waves.
It really seems to help....started this after they saved a heat stroked hen once.
Can mix up a smaller amount, just wrap the packet tight and store in a dry cool place.
Always have plain water available too.

BIG(9x14x2") chunks of ice last all day for wading, sitting, and sipping.
Much more useful to the chickens than frozen foods and treats.

Make space in your freezer!

​

 

[Backyardchickengirl]

Sounds like she might be wanting to hatch a brood. However, sometimes a hen will sit on the eggs for a long time every day, but not go broody....
Gather the eggs daily, and don't let them pile up. If she sleeps on the eggs at night, too, then try putting her on the perch before you close them in for the night.
Good luck with her.

Wow. Solid info! Thank you.

 

[Backyardchickengirl]

So 1 year old?

These are my go to signs of a broody:
Is she on nest most the day and all night?
When you pull her out of nest and put her on the ground, does she flatten right back out into a fluffy screeching pancake?
Does she walk around making a low cluckcluckcluckcluckcluck(ticking bomb) sound on her way back to the nest?
If so, then she is probably broody and you'll have to decide how to manage it.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2164403



How we beat the heat:
Deep all day shade is best but....

I give a dose of Sav-a-Chick electrolytes/vitamins about once a week during heat waves.
It really seems to help....started this after they saved a heat stroked hen once.
Can mix up a smaller amount, just wrap the packet tight and store in a dry cool place.
Always have plain water available too.

BIG(9x14x2") chunks of ice last all day for wading, sitting, and sipping.
Much more useful to the chickens than frozen foods and treats.

Make space in your freezer!

​

Thank you! Yes, 1 year old. This electrolyte solution is the bomb for me, Well, my girls! I just updated my location, per your helpful screen shots. I'm in Tampa Bay Florida and summer is in full force already. Love the frozen water pics. I'm going to the kitchen to start making them. Can you clarify: Am I to add the electrolytes to their plain water or mix them into the frozen chunk?
Your Primer notes on "going broody" are very helpful. Thank you.

So 1 year old?

These are my go to signs of a broody:
Is she on nest most the day and all night?
When you pull her out of nest and put her on the ground, does she flatten right back out into a fluffy screeching pancake?
Does she walk around making a low cluckcluckcluckcluckcluck(ticking bomb) sound on her way back to the nest?
If so, then she is probably broody and you'll have to decide how to manage it.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2164403



How we beat the heat:
Deep all day shade is best but....

I give a dose of Sav-a-Chick electrolytes/vitamins about once a week during heat waves.
It really seems to help....started this after they saved a heat stroked hen once.
Can mix up a smaller amount, just wrap the packet tight and store in a dry cool place.
Always have plain water available too.

BIG(9x14x2") chunks of ice last all day for wading, sitting, and sipping.
Much more useful to the chickens than frozen foods and treats.

Make space in your freezer!

​

 

[aart]

Can you clarify: Am I to add the electrolytes to their plain water or mix them into the frozen chunk?

EL are given in a separate waterer(s) once every week of heat.
Their regular waterer is plain water and always available.
Ice is just plain water.

 

[Backyardchickengirl]

EL are given in a separate waterer(s) once every week of heat.
Their regular waterer is plain water and always available.
Ice is just plain water.

Thank you!

 

[Backyardchickengirl]

Thank you! Yes, 1 year old. This electrolyte solution is the bomb for me, Well, my girls! I just updated my location, per your helpful screen shots. I'm in Tampa Bay Florida and summer is in full force already. Love the frozen water pics. I'm going to the kitchen to start making them. Can you clarify: Am I to add the electrolytes to their plain water or mix them into the frozen chunk?
Your Primer notes on "going broody" are very helpful. Thank you.

Hi Aart, she now meets every behavior you mentioned, especially the "tick, tick" sound, plus her feathers are distended or ruffled. She's sitting on all of today's leghorn eggs. (I'd really like to know if she laid today or not)