Is it common for a young hen to go broody?

[Ridgerunner]

There are several different signs that a pullet or hen might be broody or might be going broody. My test to determine if one is truly broody is where does she spend the nights. If she spends two consecutive nights on the nest instead of sleeping in her normal spot I consider her broody. It has to be two consecutive nights, not one.

is there any way to stop the broodiness would you know

Sometimes you can stop a hen from going broody that is showing some signs by removing her from the nest. Don't let her get too comfortable. But once one has truly committed to being broody it usually takes more effort. I lock them in a raised wire-bottomed cage for three days with food and water so they cannot go back to the nest. Others sometimes have success with other methods.

 

[Mid Wales chicken keeper]

If she persists this is a great article https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/broody-breaking-ala-aart.77915/

Thanks very much for the link to the article, good to know if things get out of hand

 

[Mid Wales chicken keeper]

There are several different signs that a pullet or hen might be broody or might be going broody. My test to determine if one is truly broody is where does she spend the nights. If she spends two consecutive nights on the nest instead of sleeping in her normal spot I consider her broody. It has to be two consecutive nights, not one.


Sometimes you can stop a hen from going broody that is showing some signs by removing her from the nest. Don't let her get too comfortable. But once one has truly committed to being broody it usually takes more effort. I lock them in a raised wire-bottomed cage for three days with food and water so they cannot go back to the nest. Others sometimes have success with other methods.

Thanks ridgerunner, she spent last night on the nest as well, but after a lot of squawking she accepted being shooed out of the coop, she had already laid, as had the others and was sitting on all the eggs. We have 3 nest boxes (and 3 chickens) but they all like to use the same one

 

[Mid Wales chicken keeper]

This... I have multiple broody pullets at the moment, and one with 8 littles.
It seems to spread like a lovely virus !!View attachment 4097795

Lovely photo, thanks very much

 

[Mid Wales chicken keeper]

My favorite mama was a Sussex. I was just reminiscing about her the other day. She was probably three or four in this picture but your post reminded me of her so…View attachment 4097846

Beautiful feathers, thanks for the photo