Why Is My Hen Sitting on the Nest All Day?
Why Is My Hen Sitting on the Nest All Day?
Your hen has most likely gone broody. According to UC Davis Veterinary Medicine, broodiness is a hormonally driven behavior in which a hen stops laying and commits to sitting on a nest (with or without eggs) in an attempt to hatch chicks. It is one of the most common questions backyard flock keepers ask, especially in spring and early summer.
A broody hen is easy to identify. She will sit on the nest almost continuously, leaving only briefly once or twice a day to eat, drink, and relieve herself. When you approach, she may puff up, growl, or peck at your hand. Her breast feathers may thin out as she plucks them to create better skin-to-egg contact for warmth. She will feel noticeably warm to the touch.
In Santa Cruz County, broodiness tends to peak between February and June, when lengthening daylight triggers hormonal changes. Some breeds are far more prone to it than others. Silkies, Cochins, and Orpingtons go broody frequently. Leghorns and most production hybrids rarely do. If you keep mixed breeds (including rescues, as we do in Boulder Creek), the likelihood varies bird by bird.
If you do not have a rooster and are not interested in hatching chicks, a broody hen is not producing eggs and is not eating or drinking enough. Penn State Extension notes that prolonged broodiness can lead to weight loss and increased vulnerability to parasites, since the hen is not dust bathing or moving normally.
To break broodiness, the most effective method is to move the hen to a wire-bottomed cage or crate (with food and water) in a well-lit area for three to five days. The wire bottom allows air circulation under her body, which helps cool her underside and disrupt the hormonal cycle. It sounds harsh, but it is a standard and humane approach recommended by poultry extension programs. Most hens snap out of it within a few days and return to normal behavior.
If you do want to let her hatch eggs, make sure she has fertile eggs (from a rooster-keeping friend or a hatchery), a quiet and safe nesting spot away from the rest of the flock, and access to food and water within easy reach. Incubation takes 21 days for chicken eggs.
This week: If you have a hen glued to the nest, check whether she is eating and drinking daily. If you do not plan to hatch chicks, set up a wire-bottomed crate in a bright area and move her there for three to five days to break the cycle.
