trying the broody thing

[KimChick]

Day 2 - 8:00 am
The hen is on the eggs!
Also did not turn the light on, even though it's another dim day. I figure she knows its daytime.

[KimChick]

Well, that didn't last long; she couldn't wait to get out of being isolated. She is back with the flock.
Now, I'm thinking that I may not have a particularly broody hen at all.

[Ontario Chick]

Better to find out now, then half way thru a hatching period.
In general terms, when hen is good and broody, she isn't easy (or pretty much impossible) to discourage from sitting.
When you take a broody of a nest, even if she is sitting on a golf ball or nothing at all, she will got thru heck and high water to get back to that nest, or at least one close by.
If she isn't totally committed to the job, it's not going to turn out well either way.

[KimChick]

And, wouldn't you know it, that same hen wanted back into the barn hen house today. It's most likely, a case of "old habits die hard" because that was the winter and early spring place to lay. The hen has a choice of 5 nesting boxes in the coops outside, within the enclosure. Like a friend said, "her GPS is a bit mixed up". She'll eventually get caught up with the rest and know what's what.

[windwalkingwolf]

Yep, if she's laying eggs, she's not broody. Leave her eggs be to pile up, and she may go down yet.

[Farrier1987]

Those broodies. They scream at you. They bite you. They yell at you. Whenever you put a hand anywhere near them on the nest. You can take them off and they get back on. Put some golf balls in for a couple days to see if they really mean it. But I have found no way of encouraging them or making them broody. Its when THEY decide, not you. And they won't negotiate. Its a girl thing I think. Fondue is hatching today. Dedicated mom. Last year, three clutches. First one this year, probably another one in August or Sept.