young hen just sitting in nesting box, I am 99% positive shes not broody or sick. Is this normal?

[Potato and Eilonwy]

My sweet chicken Loaf is a pretty young chicken, and she just recently started laying again after winter ended (she hadnt been laying long before winter). For the past 2 days, shes mostly just been sitting in the nesting box. She seems fine, theres not enough eggs under her to be broody, when I stick my hand in the nesting box she puffs up her feathers, as usual. Is this normal?

 

[Potato and Eilonwy]

Shes also a Buff Orpington, if that has anything to do with it.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

She is almost certainly broody, heavy sitters like orpis go broody even without too many eggs. That’s why she puffs up, she’s protecting her nest.

 

[Potato and Eilonwy]

She is almost certainly broody, heavy sitters like orpis go broody even without too many eggs. That’s why she puffs up, she’s protecting her nest.

She doesnt growl though, she doesnt do anything except puff up and squawk a little occasionally. Either way, how do I get her to stop?

Edit: she doesnt peck at me either

 

[fluffycrow]

All females will act differently when broody. It’s even possible for the same girl to act differently as she gains more brooding experience. Some hens don’t growl, or bite while brooding.

She sounds like a great broody so far, although it’s early days. If you don’t want her sitting, I’d remove the eggs under her and mess up her nest a bit while she’s out on one of her breaks

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

She doesnt growl though, she doesnt do anything except puff up and squawk a little occasionally. Either way, how do I get her to stop?

Edit: she doesnt peck at me either

Just her friendly nature I would guess. My silkies and Brahmas are similar when they go broody. You could isolate her in a cage/small pen with no nest for a couple of days, or just let her wait it out (it will only last about a month likely).

 

[Potato and Eilonwy]

All females will act differently when broody. It’s even possible for the same girl to act differently as she gains more brooding experience. Some hens don’t growl, or bite while brooding.

She sounds like a great broody so far, although it’s early days. If you don’t want her sitting, I’d remove the eggs under her and mess up her nest a bit while she’s out on one of her breaks

Just her friendly nature I would guess. My silkies and Brahmas are similar when they go broody. You could isolate her in a cage/small pen with no nest for a couple of days, or just let her wait it out (it will only last about a month likely).

Ok, ty both of you!

 

[NormaNewton]

I have a hen, Loretta, that has been sitting on a nesting box for a week. No eggs. I get her out daily, but I placed some fertilized eggs under her yesterday and she has been sitting on them. (She successfully hatched a raised some chicks last spring) Last night, when I went in to remove their food and count the hens, she was sitting in the box below the eggs. I placed her back on them. My questions are.. why would she do this and should I discard them? She is a broody gal each spring/summer.