Is this hen going broody? Stealing eggs

[C Siena]

We have a Sapphire Gem that is 22 months and I'm wondering if this is broody behavior. I found a clutch of 9 eggs, only 3 of which are her eggs, in the garage, secluded area, in a pile of leaves. I took the eggs, but put them back for the picture, and today found another single egg in the same spot, which is not her egg.
Do hens get eggs under their wings to transport them? The coop is about 100'-110' from this nest.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

If the nests are next to each other some hens will roll them into their nest with their beaks. However, when one hen lays in a spot ALL hens now want that spot and will go lay their eggs in the same nest. This looks like the latter is the case.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Or she could be sitting on somebody else's egg.

When my hens lay where they are not supposed to, I keep them confined to the coop and run for a week or two to "re-home" them to the nests in the coop.

 

[C Siena]

If the nests are next to each other some hens will roll them into their nest with their beaks. However, when one hen lays in a spot ALL hens now want that spot and will go lay their eggs in the same nest. This looks like the latter is the case.

Thanks. I was wondering, as for a few days last week/weekend, we were collecting 13 eggs and usually collect 14-15. I'll put a trail cam on the location. There are 5 different hens eggs, maybe 6.

 

[Ridgerunner]

To me, broody behavior is when a hen spends two consecutive nights on the nest instead of her normal sleeping spot. There are other behaviors that indicate she might or might not be broody enough to consider giving her eggs to hatch but I do not consider them to prove her worthy of hatching eggs. To me, it is two consecutive nights on the nest.

A hen can carry an egg. I've had hens move eggs before but never seen it myself. I've read posts on this forum where they either carry them under their "chin" against their breast or tuck an egg under a wing.

To me it looks like you have three hens sharing that nest. They are laying there. Finding a pile of eggs does not mean you have a broody.

I'll put a trail cam on the location.

Excellent idea.

 

[C Siena]

And I just found another! I wonder what caused them to begin to lay elsewhere in the last week.

 

[Mrs. K]

The why is because they are trying to drive you crazy. They will be perfectly happy with one or two nests - and then for no apparent reason, they will lay somewhere else. Sometimes a nest right beside the favorite, will become the top real estate. But sometimes this is a challenge to hide eggs in a new spot sometimes, in plain sight, sometimes, where you can't really believe they fit.

If I have a sudden decrease in egg production it is almost always a hidden nest. I have gone down on a Saturday morning with a cup of coffee and a book, to wait for the egg song to find them.

Mrs K

 

[C Siena]

The why is because they are trying to drive you crazy. They will be perfectly happy with one or two nests - and then for no apparent reason, they will lay somewhere else. Sometimes a nest right beside the favorite, will become the top real estate. But sometimes this is a challenge to hide eggs in a new spot sometimes, in plain sight, sometimes, where you can't really believe they fit.

If I have a sudden decrease in egg production it is almost always a hidden nest. I have gone down on a Saturday morning with a cup of coffee and a book, to wait for the egg song to find them.

Mrs K

To drive me crazy, yes. Even though it was only a couple of eggs a day less, that made the 15 a week's worth. I mark on the calendar how many eggs. My husband laughs as whenever I go outside they run/fly to me as I usually have treats. One day when I was walking to the compost I had 19 chickens following me in a line. My husband yelled "Look behind you!"

I understand as I have seen the favorite boxes with 2 hens and another yelling at them as she wants That box. Also they are beginning to lay about the same time and I have seen the boxes full. I left a golf ball in the 2 nests (garage & outside side garage door) as a friend said that if I take all the eggs, they could very well find another spot. As I am retired, coffee and the good Book, sounds like a plan. Hope it doesn't rain tomorrow. They do make me smile. Thank you.