New laying hen question

[debp]

My first chickens have just started laying these last few weeks. I wonder if there is a post somewhere on broody behavior. One of my New Hampshires is spending a lot of her time in the nest box. It might be she is having trouble laying one of her double-yolk eggs, but I also saw her on the coop floor when all others were out free-ranging, picking up bedding and throwing it over her shoulder. Hadn't seen that from any of them before. Also, is there a post on breaking broody behavior when it does occur (if you don't want it).

 

[sunflour]

There are several threads on broody girls. Try touching her and if she ruffles and growls..then she is broody. What you are seeing does sound broody to me. They demonstrate a change in personality til it's over.

There are a lot of posts of how folks break broody, but most seem cruel to me. It is a hormonal thing..high Prolactin levels..and truly I don't really believe it can be broken, just that some stay broody for a short time and others don't wanna give it up. 2 of my 3 BO's go broody too often, drives me crazy. Their PMS moods effect everyone in the flock. One can have hers last 1-2 days or up to several weeks. The other is the queen of broody and last one was 2 solid months.

Likely you'll get a much different view than me, but I believe in letting mother nature run her course.

 

[debp]

Thank you sunflour. I will search for more threads on this, but this is a good start.