Early Signs of Broodiness

Reader Contribution by Anna Twitto
Published on May 7, 2020
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We all know the typical broody signs – hen sitting puffed up on the nest, flattened like a pancake to cover all the eggs, refusing to come off and nipping at any intrusive hand with an ominous cluck. But are there any early warning signs that your chicken is about to go broody?

Well, actually, from my experience there are some early signs indicating that your chicken has plans to go broody in the very near future, even if she hasn’t started sitting yet. Here they are:

Changing laying spot to a new one. Chickens, in general, are creatures of habit – perhaps more so than any other homestead animal. Normally, a chicken will lay in the same spot, day after day, and often at the same hour. If a hen that always used to lay in the nesting box suddenly switches to lay in the bushes, it’s pretty certain she’s looking for a discreet spot to hide her clutch. Be on the lookout for these changes; often, a chicken owner will mistakenly assume the hen has stopped laying and might try things like calcium supplements or treating for lice or mites. Try to keep an eye on your chicken’s behavioral patterns. Often, when released from the coop, a hen will make a straight beeline for her chosen laying spot.

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