Here's a strange one or maybe not?

[MrsC]

My top hen has been broody for the past week, sat under the hen house on top of the eggs, god she's a nasty swine if I try to move her. Not collected for 2 days for fear of being torn apart but managed to move her tonight and no eggs????? Is she eating them????? It's a bit weird because she went mad when I managed to get her out and I only collected the full quota 2 days ago, why would she sit on nothing? Help!

[Scarlet]

If she's broody she will sit regardless of eggs! I have 3 doing it at the moment - quite normal. You can either let it run its course or sin bin her!

[MrsC]

Its the 'no eggs' that I find strange?

[Scarlet]

You have collected them!! She will try to steal or sit on the other hens eggs. My 3 broodies at the moment aren't sitting on eggs - just empty nests.
If she has gone broody now she won't lay for some time.

[Scarlet]

Is she getting off her nest for food and water? If not I would make sure you take her off twice a day to make her eat or drink, regardless of how nasty she is - wear gloves if you need to. I block up the nest boxes in the night and often put them in a dog cage to stop them getting comfy, though no eggs from my broody 3 till next feb I expect.

[RichmondHens]

All my broodies are piled up in the nestbox again, on no eggs. I go in and rummage underneath twice a day for eggs as the layers just climb in on top of them, lay their eggs and leave. Then there is lots of squabbling as to who gets to sit on the egg. Just as they sort it out between them I come along and take it away, much to their annoyance!

[MrsC]

Thanks for your replies guys, there's 9 girls in there and 1 broody so where are the eggs from the other 8?

[Scarlet]

If they were egg eating you would see evidence - egg shells, some contents left behind etc.
Are they laying elswhere? Checked for mites etc?
When were they last wormed?
What breeds have you got? Are they having a break? I keep only traditional breeds so mine will slowly dwindle down and eventually around mid October I get zero eggs until late Jan early feb.
Any feathers around, moulting?
Are they getting enough layers and not to many treats in the afternoon.
It does sound odd, all 9 off lay, I would be very amazed if all eggs were being eaten, there has to be something else. We need more info...

[MrsC]

Its moulting time, ankle deep in feathers in the run this morning!

[Glutton4...]

Same here, feather-wise - but they're still laying!

[MrsC]

Same here, feather-wise - but they're still laying!

My girls have had a partial moult and still layed but no eggs from them at all, not surprising because the amount of feathers is astounding!

[citygirl]

Ah. useful thread

Well my hen has decided it's time to sit on nothing too! She pecks me if i try stroke her, but i can get her out with a few raisins or sweetcorn (is this wrong then? I'm a newbie hen mummy you see) once she's up and about she has a wander and a stretch, drinks and eats a bit, but then goes straight back to roost... i can stop her going to the nest if i shut the gate, but she'll end up just sitting on the carpet instead. otherwise she seems healthy enough, but stopped laying eggs end of last week.. do you think i should just carry on as we are for now?

[Suechooks]

She's broody! If you can, try and move her to discourage her from sitting too long. My bantam Orpington went broody after laying for a few weeks and I managed to get her out of it in a few days by just taking her out of the box each time I went in there. They can lose condition if you let them sit too long, and with winter approaching she needs to be in good nick for those long dark nights.

[citygirl]

okey doke, thankyou I shall get her out and about as much as i can when i'm in, but she'll be ok if it's not possible for shortish periods when i can't be around??

[Suechooks]

Yes - mine live on my allotment so I'm not there all the time. Its probably only half hearted at this time of year anyway so shouldn't take too long - just chivvy her about a bit when you can!