Strange Behavior?

[beth1004]

I noticed over the weekend that one of our Buff Orpingtons is spending lots of time in the nesting box. I'll preface this with I'm new to chickens. Got our first ones in October, these girls just started laying 2 weeks ago so this is all new to me and possibly normal behavior. I find her in the nest box and I'm all excited because I think I'll get to see her lay an egg. Now, its not early in the morning when the temps haven't gotten ridiculous. Its the middle of the afternoon. She is in there for an hour. I go and check on her and she's moving about. Then sitting. Then panting. So I start to worry about the heat. I go get cold water and bring it to her. She won't drink in. It start dripping it on her. She drinks some of it. I put it on her comb and waddles. I leave her alone. She's still at it. Finally I just take her out of the nest box and bring her down to the creek. I put her in. Its only on her feet. She is walking around and fine. I notice similar behavior yesterday. Same today. I spent some time reading about crop issues, broody hens and egg bound. She doesn't seem ton have any of that. She was on an egg. She didn't fuss when I took the egg and put her out of the box. Whats going on with her? Is this normal? Is it right to move her out of the box because of the heat and she had already laid an egg? Please advise.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

It sounds suspiciously like she is in a motherly way. This is a good example of why so called broodiness has been bred out of most hens today. This behavior will possibly result in a net reduction of eggs on the order of 60 eggs each and every time that she wants to sit, or a possible loss of 120 eggs (10 dozen) per year.

 

[RWise]

I let my girls do their thing, if they are still on the nest at night, I may move them to the roost. However I had a pullet that laid at night, I did let her spend the night in the nest box, she worked it out and no longer does this.
Sounds like she is young and new to laying, IF she wants to spend the night in the nest box, and growls when you move her, she is broody. IF I want chicks, I may let one set, in a nest of my choice, in private quarters. Else she goes to the broody buster (wire bottom cage) for several days.
I dont have any that currently go broody... (all EEs)

 

[aart]

Is it right to move her out of the box because of the heat and she had already laid an egg?

That's fine.
Are you sure that egg in the nest was hers?
Some bird like to 'lounge' around in the nests before and after laying.
It can be hard to know what to do when the temps are high, panting and holding wings out is normal, absolute lack of activity can be a sign they need some intervention.
I give a dose of Sav-A-Chick electrolytes/vitamins about once a week, really seems to help along, with the other heat busters like ice cubes on the ground, and shade.