Sitting an egg for hours

[emmaellis111]

Right guys. My hen has layed an egg and she been sitting on it for a couple of hours now. Could she be broody or is it normal. My hens dont lay that often so I've never seen her do this before normal she lays an egg and then comes out of the coop and just eat lol. Any comments welcome x

 

[TamiCas]

Hi I had a hen do this. And it ended up that she was broody. My hen was so stubborn about leaving the nest that she actually ended up dehydrated and losing weight. I haven't got a rooster in my flock so there was no chance of her hatching anything I tried lots of things like taking the eggs as soon as they were laid (she remained stubborn and sat in the empty nesting box). For a few days in a row I went down and walked around the garden with her id read that airing their vent would break the broody behaviour. She's very stubborn and so eventually, I went down in the mornings to let them all out took her out of the nesting box and locked them all out of the coop for the day (I have other sheltered areas in the garden that the girls can get in out of the weather but no where comfortable enough to nest for an entire day) After a week of doing this she finally came out with the rest of the group in the morning and has not displayed any signs of being broody since.
I hope this helps

 

[emmaellis111]

That's so interesting. No I haven't had to do any of that about 5 mins after I wrote this post she came out.. bummer lol I want a broody hen

d

 

[TamiCas]

Ooh that's good. They can be a pain to break if you've no use for a broody

 

[Poultry parent]

Sometimes they will sit for hours and then get off, if she stays on overnight then she's probably broody

 

[emmaellis111]

I hope she does go broody lol but will she stay off the egg for a few hours and then go back on.?

 

[Poultry parent]

A broody hen generally get off for a half hour or so to get food

 

[emmaellis111]

Well I've just gone out to lock the coop up and my other hen is sat on the egg now! ..
My hens are funny don't know when I'm coming or going with them. Typical ladysladys lol