Why does a hen go in and out of the hen house repeatedly?

[Kipster]

I have a feeling it's because a hen might feel like she needs to lay an egg.

I was outside for a few hours while my son's hens were free-ranging, and one of them stayed near the coop (didn't venture far to free-range and didn't hang out with the others) and went in and out of the hen house repeatedly, about every 5-8 minutes for the 2 hours I was watching. We didn't find an egg after all that effort.

Thanks for any insight.

 

[kmom08]

Is there feed in the house?

 

[ketojenn]

Sometimes they act like their going to lay a few days before they actually do. Some of them practice nesting, some of them just act confused. It's all normal. Lol

 

[Kipster]

Sometimes they act like their going to lay a few days before they actually do. Some of them practice nesting, some of them just act confused. It's all normal. Lol

Glad to hear it. Normally she hangs out with the other hens and loves to free-range, lay in the dirt, etc. Thanks.

 

[Kipster]

Is there feed in the house?

Not much. There's more outside in the coop area, plus goodies to eat while free-ranging outside the coop.

 

[aart]

How old is she?

Here's some tips on how to tell....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[sourland]

She's most likely 'thinking' about laying.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

One of my EEer pullets paces... and paces... and paces! She paces for about 45 minutes before she lays her egg. She’s one of the lower ranking girls, so I think she paces until the other hens leave the coop and she can snag the nest box she wants. As she does it every time she lays, it’s just normal behavior for her.

 

[kmom08]

One of my EEer pullets paces... and paces... and paces! She paces for about 45 minutes before she lays her egg

My polish hen was a "creeper" for months before laying her first egg. She would follow the big girls in the house every time a hen went in to lay, and didn't come back out until they were done with their business. Now that shes laying she always comes out if the house squawking away as if announcing to everyone that she just laid the golden egg lol

 

[Kipster]

How old is she?

Here's some tips on how to tell....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

She's about 17-18 months old. Thanks for the "how to tell" link