Orpington not Broody

[StudentSA]

Hi All,

New to the Forum and Chickens, I have an Orpington that started laying and I'd like her to incubate the batch. However I am having two problems
1. She does not lay in her box.
2. She has laid 12 eggs and does not seem interested to sit on them.

Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

Hens can take any length of time and lay any number of eggs before they go broody, if they ever go broody. Some will lay half a dozen and sit of them. Some will lay several dozen. And some will never go broody, or maybe once or twice in a lifetime. It cannot be predicted and it cannot be controlled, unfortunately.

Having her lay somewhere you want her to sit later is important. It is very difficult to move a broody once they are sitting. There must be something putting her off your boxes. Perhaps there aren't enough of them or they are too bright or drafty or too high/low, or the bedding material isn't ideal, or she is being bullied out of them by another hen?

 

[50-45-1]

Do you have other chickens and a rooster?
There is no telling when or IF your hen will go broody. Leaving eggs in the nest is a good way to end up with rotten eggs. Also you might end up enticing in some egg eating preditors by leaving them out there like that.
Gather your eggs every day. Put 2 or 3 golf balls or fake eggs in the nest box. This will make her believe other hens have found this spot a safe place to lay.
Do you have a coop? If that is her nest nox it may be two exposed for her. Inside the coop will be better where it is darker.