Possible Broody Hen

[rosemarythyme]

And… just as i was going to get up this morning and cage her, she decided to stop being broody and not lay me any eggs today.

If she was broody she won't lay for a few weeks until she's back in regular body condition.

 

[CKfarm22]

If she was broody she won't lay for a few weeks until she's back in regular body condition.

Really?!?

 

[fluffycrow]

Really?!?

Yes. And if she were broody in the first place she wouldn't be laying

 

[CKfarm22]

Yes. And if she were broody in the first place she wouldn't be laying

She laid on Thursday and Friday when she sat on the eggs

 

[fluffycrow]

Hens don't lay while brooding. How long each day did she spend on the eggs? Photos would help too

 

[CKfarm22]

Hens don't lay while brooding. How long each day did she spend on the eggs? Photos would help too

I didn’t take photos because i didn’t know she was broody lol. Like i said, before Thursday night she would lay on eggs (including her own) for about 3-4 hours. Thursday night when it was time to roost, she jumped into the nesting box and laid on the eggs that were in there. All day friday she laid on them, I took the fake eggs away on friday night and saturday (yesterday) morning, she stopped and was outside all day.

 

[fluffycrow]

If she was laying, she wasn't broody

 

[CKfarm22]

If she was laying, she wasn't broody

So then why was she laying on eggs for over 24 hours?

Also, She was ruffling up her feathers and squawking on friday when i went to get the eggs from under her

 

[fluffycrow]

Broodies usually take a couple days to get in their role, so they spend a couple of days thinking about it, where they might lay. But once they start spending all their time in the nest, they stop. If you're saying that she spent all Friday on the nest, and she also laid, then there might be something else going on

 

[aart]

Sounds like she may be on the cusp of brooding.
They can go back and forth for a while before committing either way.
Don't stress about it too much, just observe.
Gather all eggs daily, only leaving any fakies in the nests.
Might think about a nest cover to close an hour before roost time and uncovering after dark when you lock up.
Get your broody breaker crate ready to go.
I don't put them in the crate until they've been on the nest day and night for 3 days.
ETA(well, at least until I became much more familiar with broody behaviors.)