My hen is just sitting in her hen box

[SEPMJR09]

Not sure if this is the correct selection:

I have a hen that won’t leave the nesting box. There were eggs in there she was sitting on (we noticed if we don’t get them fairly quickly she is the only one that lays on them) and all day yesterday (Thursday) and I went their this morning and she’s still sitting in the nesting box. We picked her up and removed the 2 eggs that were there from another hen. I went this morning to see if she came out the box and she’s still in there. I moved her and there still are not anymore eggs for her to lay on. I set her on the floor (we have a custom house built) and she just sits there. Like she won’t stand. I fed her bread to make sure she still wants food she ate it. When the other hens come around she fluffs all out and makes a little sound and ruffles her feathers. She does it at times too when we open the nesting box to check on her. I’ve been told to remove the eggs as fast as you can so they don’t sit on them but she is starting to sit on them. We collect them around 530 everyday when we get home from work. Will she eventually come out of her nesting box and roam again with the flock? I just want to make sure she gets food and water and walks around so nothing happens to her. Thanks again!

 

[azygous]

It sounds like she could be broody. This means she's going through a hormone change that compels her to sit on a nest, regardless of there being any eggs there. Removing eggs does nothing to interrupt this hormonal process.

Ordinarily, if you let a broody hen sit as she wants, she will continue to do so for three weeks or longer, and then when there are no chicks, her hormones will begin to revert back to normal.

If you want to short circuit this process, you need to use a broody cage to confine her and elevate her body so circulating air under her can interrupt the hormones. This usually takes just three days and the hen is cured of wanting to sit on a nest. For now. Broody-prone hens can go broody three or four times in a season.

 

[SEPMJR09]

It sounds like she could be broody. This means she's going through a hormone change that compels her to sit on a nest, regardless of there being any eggs there. Removing eggs does nothing to interrupt this hormonal process.

Ordinarily, if you let a broody hen sit as she wants, she will continue to do so for three weeks or longer, and then when there are no chicks, her hormones will begin to revert back to normal.

If you want to short circuit this process, you need to use a broody cage to confine her and elevate her body so circulating air under her can interrupt the hormones. This usually takes just three days and the hen is cured of wanting to sit on a nest. For now. Broody-prone hens can go broody three or four times in a season.

Oh wow. Never knew this. Thank you so much. Okay so I’ll have to try and get another form of something for her to nest in that has air flow on the bottom to help.

 

[john_wrightson2003]

Oh wow. Never knew this. Thank you so much. Okay so I’ll have to try and get another form of something for her to nest in that has air flow on the bottom to help.

Does she make a fuss when you reach in the box and grab her?

 

[SEPMJR09]

It sounds like she could be broody. This means she's going through a hormone change that compels her to sit on a nest, regardless of there being any eggs there. Removing eggs does nothing to interrupt this hormonal process.

Ordinarily, if you let a broody hen sit as she wants, she will continue to do so for three weeks or longer, and then when there are no chicks, her hormones will begin to revert back to normal.

If you want to short circuit this process, you need to use a broody cage to confine her and elevate her body so circulating air under her can interrupt the hormones. This usually takes just three days and the hen is cured of wanting to sit on a nest. For now. Broody-prone hens can go broody three or four times in a season.

I put water in the coop so she has access to water. I’m worried she’ll get dehydrated and die we work during the day so I have no idea if she comes out for food or water or bugs or does she sit 24/7 in there so I put water in their for her so she has access to it. I definitely don’t want to add to her staying in there I want her to come out and come back and roam with the other girls

 

[SEPMJR09]

Does she make a fuss when you reach in the box and grab her?

ehh idk. It’s some sort of noise she makes and it’s like she clicks her beak together maybe like she has something sticky in her mouth I guess is the best way to describe it. She fluffs her feathers when you come around her or another one like she’s signaling she’s in charge so idk. I’ve never seen it I’m worried about her

 

[SEPMJR09]

ehh idk. It’s some sort of noise she makes and it’s like she clicks her beak together maybe like she has something sticky in her mouth I guess is the best way to describe it. She fluffs her feathers when you come around her or another one like she’s signaling she’s in charge so idk. I’ve never seen it I’m worried about her

she does let me pet her and or pick her up she doesn’t act weird or anything. I removed her from her nesting box and tried to see if she would just stand and maybe go on her own and she didn’t. She just sat there in the nesting position and didn’t move and I freaked like something was wrong. So with everyone responding that she’s a broody hen does make me feel better because the girls are my kids! Haha I love them. I have kids and the kids are so attached to them as I am too! So I was very worried about her. Still am until she roams the yard again with her friends.

 

[janiedoe]

Broody hens generally only leave the nest 1x per day. They poop, eat, drink, and sometimes dust bathe. All the while they puff up and cluck or shriek at the other hens.
She is most likely getting out while you aren't there. If you spy a stinky, xl poop, that is your proof.
Have fun.

 

[john_wrightson2003]

ehh idk. It’s some sort of noise she makes and it’s like she clicks her beak together maybe like she has something sticky in her mouth I guess is the best way to describe it. She fluffs her feathers when you come around her or another one like she’s signaling she’s in charge so idk. I’ve never seen it I’m worried about her

Definitely sounds like you got yourself one of nature's incubators!

 

[townchicks]

A wire dog crate works well, put it up on bricks so the air flows underneath, remove the tray too. Put food and water in the crate with her, and make sure she has shade all day while you're gone. Remember the sun moves.