Sit over lay?

[Ladybug2001]

My family was discussing a broody hen. I said that a cochin is a breed that will "lay" on her eggs. My dad corrected me with "sit". Which is it ?

 

[Spookwriter]

I know someone will come along and disagree with me.

But the hen LAYS her egg.

She will SET on the clutch.

 

[hemet dennis]

I know someone will come along and disagree with me.

But the hen LAYS her egg.

She will SET on the clutch.

Well it wont be me because you're correct.

 

[sourland]

I know someone will come along and disagree with me.

But the hen LAYS her egg.

She will SET on the clutch.

I'm not about to disagree with the facts.

 

[LovePolish2]

I know someone will come along and disagree with me.

But the hen LAYS her egg.

She will SET on the clutch.

I agree!

 

[Bunnylady]

Now, see, this is one of those situations that goes to show what bird brains we chicken folks are. The definition of "lay" is to put or place something, particularly to do it gently or with care. One definition of "set" is pretty much the same thing. And anyone knows that when you put your bottomside on something and remain that way, what you are doing is "sitting." Well, having seen some of the places that my hens' eggs have wound up, I have sometimes wondered about how gently or with care they were placed. What a broody hen does sure looks like "sitting" to me, but for some reason we go and call that "setting." Another definition of "set" is, "to achieve a fixed or rigid condition." Knowing how determined broodies can be to not be moved, maybe that's why we call it "setting?"

 

[sourland]

Nope,

lady, I call broody behavior 'setting' because that's what my Mom called it, and mothers are always right. She taught me well.

 

[theotherranch]

All I can add to this is that when Goldie Hen goes broody, she's not sitting, since that would imply later movement! She is SET!!!

 

[Opa]

A hen lays eggs. Then she sits. When you place eggs under a hen or use an incubator you set eggs.