Our mixed breed hen, Wishbone, had eight days to go til hatch time. She selected her own nest site, a very good one, inside an elevated pen with a latching door. She had her own fan and was totally protected from predators. This morning at breakfast she was beating on the door wanting to come out; usually she doesn't leave the pen at all and has all her food and water in her pen. My son let her out, hoping she'd eat and go back to the nest, but I just saw her in the front yard enjoying a huge dust bath! She was so dusty I didn't even recognize her! I'm pretty sure they can tell by hearing or movement (?) if the egg is fertile or not, cause I've seen other Mom hens throwing bad ones out of the nest. I'm guessing all the eggs were duds, or did she just get tired, or was it too hot? Just curious.
