Neighbors hen hiding eggs in yard

[cldineley]

The neighbors hen has started laying eggs in a sheltered hidden place in our yard 3 days ago. Is this a sign she going broody. She hangs out with my roo all day and then goes home at night, but comes back in the morning, which I think is so cute and funny. Since I have no experience with laying hens, I want to know if she is just laying eggs or hiding them to hatch when she gets enough. I am almost positive they are fertile since I saw my roo mate her yesterday, which is another new experience for me. It is really cold and snowing here today and is wondering if the eggs will be ok. I got her penned up with the roo and moved the eggs to nest box( a covered cat litter box with hay in it) but I don't think she is sitting in them. I did notice for 2 weeks before she started laying that she would lay under bushes and make little nest and sit for a while. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[midget_farms]

Thats pretty normal. They like to find a safe place to lay eggs - its usually in the nest - but she doesnt seem to want to make the walk home so she found a nice place in your yard.

 

[Annabella]

One of my hens has decided to duck under the fence and lay next door under the bushes.

Until now she has been happily laying up in the coop with the other girls.
She certainly isnt clucky and we have no roosters.
My friend thinks its because she wants to stop me "stealing" her eggs

 

[gryeyes]

I have several coops. The youngsters in my flock tend to "coop hop" and occasionally choose to sleep with different buddies in a different coop. That's one behavior I think is interesting enough, but some of the gals have also started laying eggs in different coops, too. The older hens always lay their eggs in the same nest box they've always used.

Generally, after 3 days of laying in one place, the pullets start laying somewhere else. I, too, think they are tired of me "stealing" their eggs, although they haven't shown the least interest in setting on any of 'em.

 

[cldineley]

I was hoping that she wanted to sit on the eggs. I wanted to see what the chicks would look like between the two. my roo is a Barred Rock and people here think the hen is an American game.Maybe another time.

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
cldineley, that is normal for a hen, however the cold may have an adverse affect on the hatchability. If she likes the nest you made for her and continues to lay in it, she may or may not be successful at hatching the ones that froze. The urge to brood will follow. Time will tell.........Pop

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
Heh Heh, looks like we were typing at the same time. I`d say she is American game, but what game breed remains a mystery. Game hens are very broody, so if she likes your new nest location and the cold hasn`t hurt the eggs, you should have peeps. Typically they will be red with baring like the cock. Nice lookers, too. You`ll have fun with her and her brood........Pop

 

[cldineley]

Thanks for the suggestions. Laying hens are new to me. I'm going to keep them in the pen we made for them from now on, so I hope she starts to lay in the nest. We don't have a coop yet but my husband is going to buy me one in a couple of weeks and make the penned in area bigger. He doesn't like my roo since he pecked his leg, but he is indulging me for now since I feel in love with them and I will be getting 2 more BR hens for the roo. My husband wants me to keep them locked in their pen because he thinks the neighbors might do something to them or a stray dog might get them and he don't want me upset if it happens. Also, I notice today after I let my roo out that he lead the hen to the place where she has been laying eggs and made her go in there. Then he stood guard for over an hour until she was done. Is he encouraging her to stay on the nest? He has become very protective of her the past few weeks too.

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
Yes, he is encouraging her to lay. You might be better off not introducing any strange hens to your little flock as it will cause friction with the game hen. It won`t be a good scene, especially if they are confined. Besides, if she succeeds in hatching some of those eggs, you will probably have more pullets, as well as more roosters. This is gonna be fun. Be sure to keep me posted and good luck.......Pop

 

[cldineley]

I wasn't planning on getting more hens until we have our coop and pen set up first, but if she is going to go broody I will wait a little longer. She is not constantly sitting on the eggs yet, there are 3 now. I've read that some don't sit until they have 5 or more eggs in the nest, so I'm leaving them in there, but I have been taking them out at night so they won't freeze, and put them back in the morning. Will this have any effect on her willingness to sit on them. Plus, my roo seems to be more protective of the eggs than she is right now. She did lay her first egg in the nest this morning. I was so happy.