Staying in coop/wrong diagnosis

[afishl1]

Just wanted to let everyone know about a scenario I came across. One of my chickens had been staying in the coop all day long and night. I initially thought she was sick and took her to the vet for a check up and blood work. Nothing came back positive although they said she looked a little dehydrated. I had read somewhere about them being "brood" (i think that's what it was called) and that her inactivity could simply be a behavioral issue. I thought this could be the case seeing as though I hadn't taken out the eggs for some time now. Well, wouldn't you know, as soon as I took out the eggs (all of them especially the ones she was sitting on) she was out and about again good as new. Funny thing is though she's doing it again now that I left the eggs there again. I'll update if this works again.

 

[Pork Pie]

If she is broody - signs include sitting in a nest (eggs or not!) and fluffing her feathers if you approach and "growling" at you and not laying. If you have no wish to hatch eggs, then its a good idea to break her broodiness. This link should help - https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/181289/how-to-break-a-broody-hen

CT