Unreliable broody

[Flock Leader]

One of my hens went into "broody mode" (broody cluck, puffed-up feathers, wouldn't leave the nesting box), so I gave her some fertile eggs and she covered them nicely. However, this morning when I got up I saw the hen just walking around, doing her chicken thing (scratching, dust-bathing), and the eggs were cold. She still isn't acting normally - puffs up her feathers, etc - but does this mean she isn't really broody?

I've had previous broody-failure with her. She made herself a nest in the bushes and went broody, then broke out of broodiness after I moved her. I tried to lock her in with the eggs in a secure cage, but she just began pecking at them and eating them. Then I let her go. This time I hoped it would be different because I can now let her sit in her chosen place.

What do I do? It's a little frustrating. Last time it took her a while to begin laying again. So, no eggs and no chicks. Any advice?

 

[Judy]

Since broodiness is regulated by hormones, I don't imagine that there is anything you can do.

 

[Flock Leader]

Thanks! I just wish she would make up her mind. The way things are, she is neither a reliable layer nor a good broody.

There's one thing, though. I noticed another hen likes to lay in the same spot. Could this bother my broody?

 

[Judy]

I don't know whether it would make her more or less likely to stay broody... but it has to be bothersome. I have a small room in my coop, with chicken wire for "walls," maybe 5' x 5' that I use for a broody. Enough for a comfy nest plus the food and water and some space to get a little exercise. I have the mama raise the chicks in with the flock, but after some problems, started having them do their setting in a separate place.

That would be interesting, if it turned out that she stayed broody if she was just left alone.