older laying hen protecting eggs...

[caledonchick]

Hi,
I am a newbie in the backyard chicken area, we have had our girls just 2 years. Our girls tend to lay all their eggs in one area of the coop. We have 8 girls and get between 6 - 7 eggs a day. (I think someone is not putting out!) At any rate, one of our older girls - "Harriet" has suddenly decided that she is going to sit on all the eggs...and will not leave. She puffs up her feathers, and will growl and peck if you try to move her. She would sit there ALL day if you let her. She is not laying, just sitting. She just started doing this about a week ago. The rest of the girls lay their eggs...but they have to squeeze in beside Harriet to do so because she won't move. When we do get her off the eggs, she runs around normally with the other girls free range until evening. Can anyone tell me what is going on?
Thank you!
Janet

 

[Chicken Girl1]

Hello

and Welcome to BYC!
It sounds like you may have a broody hen! Here is an article on the subject: Encouraging or Discouraging Broodiness, if you want to read more on the subject you can find more articles in the learning center.

 

[shelby h]

I'm no expert, being a new chicken mom myself, but from reading some of these threads, she sounds like she's being broody. Search for broody hen in the search box and it'll get you to some good ideas on how to break her of the habit.

 

[Chickenchick11]

I agree with @Chicken Girl1 and @shelby h , you have a broody! A broody is a hen who wants to incubate and hatch eggs, but if you're not planning on hatching eggs, broodies can be a nuisance. Here's a article on breaking broodies:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-break-a-broody-hen

 

[Spartan22]

She is ready to hatch those eggs

. I had a leghorn that was broody, took me almost 2 wks to break her. I just kicked her of her nest everyday and lock her out. She finally got it and start laying in matter of couple of wks. I was told normally it takes them a long time to lay eggs after become broody.