My barred rock hen sits on multiple eggs all day

[382767]

I have a year old Plymouth Rock hen. For the past 4 months she goes about her business, lays eggs and bosses around more docile chickens. Now she sits on eggs all day long-been going on for a week. My other chickens apparently squeeze into the Rock's bin, lays an egg and leaves. We were on a 3 day vacation and my son reported that he did not see her out with the other chickens. Bottom line: We have to reach under her and grab whatever number of eggs are there. Yesterday we pulled out 9 eggs she had been laying on. I'm guessing that she's trying to hatch the eggs??? She hasn't been out of the coop in over a week. What is going on???

 

[beetandsteet]

Yes your girl is definitely broody (trying to hatch eggs). Does she puff up and growl at you and the other chickens? That is what broodies do. She will probably not lay eggs for awhile, (even if you do not let her hatch) and she may even molt.

 

[382767]

No, she does not growl. Sometimes you can just reach under her and get the eggs and sometimes you have to make her stand up (partially) to get the eggs. She does squack quite a bit if you gently push her off the eggs, then she runs away squacking all the way. Then she heads for the feeding station and becomes a feed hog as she hasn't eaten for a while. The other chickens then walk up to her, probably saying (in chicken speak) hey, how are ya? Haven't seen you for a while. Yak yak yak

 

[beetandsteet]

No, she does not growl. Sometimes you can just reach under her and get the eggs and sometimes you have to make her stand up (partially) to get the eggs. She does squack quite a bit if you gently push her off the eggs, then she runs away squacking all the way. Then she heads for the feeding station and becomes a feed hog as she hasn't eaten for a while. The other chickens then walk up to her, probably saying (in chicken speak) hey, how are ya? Haven't seen you for a while. Yak yak yak

Haha that is probably what the other chickens are saying. I still think your girl is broody. It is more common here in the fall and the spring. Keep pushing her off the nest and she will eventually give it up.