Protective of eggs?

[MendonMan]

I have a 20 week old hen (1 of 4) that is on her second egg. When I check in the AM for eggs, she immediately leaves the run and heads to the coop and into the box where I'm checking (nestbox has outside access). She seems very possessive of her egg.

Is this a beginner thing or many hens are this way? I always had the impression people just went around collecting eggs while the chickens were scratching around and oblivious to what was happening.

She does not peck or scratch. She just seems to want to go into the box and hover over the egg. Sometimes she will scratch the straw around.

Thanks,

Chalres

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

Sounds like she is broody, or "lazy broody". I call it that because my BO is too lazy to hatch anything but looks at broodiness as more of a "hobby". My hen Sophie was very proud of her first eggs, and any blue ones she sees. When she first started laying, she would walk with me to the boxes when I had my bucket and since we had boxes right on the floor, she would roll the eggs right out to me. Now she still does this to her eggs and blue ones, I think she likes the shape that my Ameraucanas lay.

I would just teach her good habits. All of my hand reared hens (even the broody ones) learned from the first day they went in the nesting box to let my hand go under them and take their eggs. No I don't usually have any problems. Just don't let her boss you around, if she is going to try and peck you, cup your hand over her head until you have gotten all the eggs, she'll learn.

Good luck!~Ms. B