Broody fever is real, but Annie's not even laying :/

[16 and me]

Isabel, a serial brooding Blue Copper Marans went broody a few days ago. She means business. Now today, I find Annie, my Buff Orpington has now decided to sit as well. Cool, but she hasn't been laying since she went into molt in October. She's been a successful Broody in the past, but always in the summer, last time was her reacting to my speckled sussex going broody, so she's prone to this. But, will a hen who isn't actually laying herself, commit to Brood a clutch of eggs? If so, I wonder if having 2 winter hatches would have a more favourable outcome?

 

[sourland]

How old is Annie? Sometimes an older/experienced/non laying hen will go broody in my experience. If she has successfully hatched eggs in the past, it is likely that she will set for 21 days.

 

[16 and me]

How old is Annie? Sometimes an older/experienced/non laying hen will go broody in my experience. If she has successfully hatched eggs in the past, it is likely that she will set for 21 days.

She is 3 years old, and has set successfully in the past. However.. when I checked in her later she had just come out of the nest box so I checked in on it and she had laid a shelless egg. I cleaned it all up and put fresh straw down for her, but she spent the night on the roost last night. The broody may have kickstarted her maternal instincts but her system wasn't quite ready yet. I'll see if she sits again today.

 

[ChookaPete]

She is 3 years old, and has set successfully in the past. However.. when I checked in her later she had just come out of the nest box so I checked in on it and she had laid a shelless egg. I cleaned it all up and put fresh straw down for her, but she spent the night on the roost last night. The broody may have kickstarted her maternal instincts but her system wasn't quite ready yet. I'll see if she sits again today.

Did she sit again since?

 

[16 and me]

Did she sit again since?

Sorry, lost track of this over the Christmas Season! No Annie didn't ever go back and sit. She laid a few weak eggs and then stopped until this week. She laid 3 eggs already so it seems she's coming back off her winter break. Mama hen hatched 5 chicks Dec. 28 & 29, and all are doing well. No more broodies for now. But I am expecting Isabel to repeat her cycle and go broody end of March or early April again. I may have to yry to break her broodiness if this keeps up, or I'll have to build a bigger coop!