Old Broody Hen

[SueLibby19]

My 4 year old black rock hen has always been a little broody but normally it only lasts a few days, this time however it's been nearly three weeks and she's barely eating or drinking. She lays very rarely now (every few weeks/months) due to her age but since she's been broody she's actually layed 2-3 eggs, which I'm confused about as I had read that hen's don't lay when they are broody. She also seems to have dropped down the ranks in the pecking order as she used to run the roost and is now being pushed around. Should I be worried about her or just let her continue?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Are you sure she's laying the eggs? Often other hens will intentionally lay in the broodies nest.

My broody hens will remain broody up to 3 months if not broken, so expect her to sit a long time until she's so depleted she will break herself.

A broody hen comes off the nest once a day to eat, drink, poop, and dust bath.

Generally when a hen is broody other hens will fight with her because of her odd behavior.

I personally find it kinder to break them by putting them in a wire bottomed crate for 3-5 days.

 

[SueLibby19]

She's definitely laying. She's sitting on the eggs of others too but she is our only hen that lays speckled eggs so it's easy to discern which are hers.

Thank you so much for the information and advice, I'll take it all into consideration