Lucas Delgado
A chicken may sit on an empty nest because it is broody. Broody hens will lay a clutch of eggs, stop laying, and sit on the eggs for about 21 days until they hatch. If there are no fertile eggs, broodiness can continue for over three weeks, causing health issues for the hen and problems for other hens. Broody hens are usually very protective of their nests and may peck at other hens that try to lay eggs in the same nest. To stop a hen from being broody, you can try collecting eggs daily so the nest is empty, or separating the hen from the nest for a few days.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason | The chicken may be broody and trying to hatch eggs |
| Solutions | 1. Collect eggs daily so the nest is empty most of the time and the chicken is less likely to become broody |
| 2. Lock the chicken out of the coop | |
| 3. Lure the chicken with treats from the garden | |
| 4. Dip the chicken's underside in cold water to cool her down and break her broodiness | |
| 5. Place ice cubes or frozen peas underneath the chicken to cool her down and make it uncomfortable for her to sit in the nesting box | |
| 6. Create a broody enclosure using a wire cage or dog crate with food and water | |
| 7. Place fake eggs under the chicken to sit on for a few weeks, then swap them with chicks |
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What You'll Learn
Your chicken might be broody
If your chicken is sitting on an empty nest, it might be broody. A broody hen is one that is committed to hatching chicks. The state of being broody is controlled by instinct, hormones, and lighting conditions. Broody hens will frequently lay a clutch of eggs, then stop egg-laying and sit on them for 21 days (more or less) until they hatch.
Some chicken breeds are more inclined to brood than others. For example, Silkies, Cochins, and Australorps are known for their broodiness. In general, a broody hen prefers a dark, private, comfortable location to set. Her chosen spot can range from a nest box inside the coop to a hidden location away from the coop. Broody hens will pluck their own breast feathers to expose the warmth and moisture of their skin directly to the eggs.
If you have a broody hen, there are several things you can do to stop this behaviour. Firstly, you can collect any eggs in the nest right away so she can't continue sitting on them. Try to collect every egg as soon as it's laid to remove any temptation for the broody hen to sit. You can also try carrying your chicken around for 10-15 minutes while you make your rounds, then set her down on the ground and encourage her to scratch and peck in the yard. You can also add some new, interesting places to roost, such as logs, branches, or upside-down buckets.
Another method to stop a broody hen is to give her a cold water bath. Fill a sink or wash tub with a few inches of cold water and gently lower the chicken into the bath. You only need enough water to cover her chest when she sits. The idea is to help cool down her chest and vent, thereby lowering her broody body temperature.
If your broody hen is still determined to nest, you can try locking her out of the coop. She may pace outside the door, crying, or find herself a comfortable makeshift nest on the grass. Whenever possible, lure her with treats from the garden so she has to get up and move about. Before sunset, unlock the coop so the flock can go to bed. The next morning, you might find her wandering around with her flock.
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She could be protecting her eggs
If your chicken is sitting on an empty nest, it could be because she is broody and protective of her eggs. Broody hens will lay a clutch of eggs and then stop laying to sit on them until they hatch, which takes around 21 days. Some chicken breeds are more inclined to broodiness, such as Silkies, Cochins, and Australorps.
Broody hens are usually very protective of their nests and will peck at other hens that try to lay eggs in the same nest. They may also abandon their nests and harm chicks if they are unreliable. If you do not want your hen to hatch eggs, it is important to break her of her broodiness to prevent negative health consequences.
One method to break a broody hen is to collect any eggs she lays right away so that she cannot continue sitting on them. You can also try adding more nesting boxes to encourage her to lay in a different spot. If your hen is still determined to nest, you can try giving her a cold water bath to help cool down her body temperature, but this should only be done in warm weather.
If you do want your hen to hatch eggs, you can put fake eggs under her to sit on for a few weeks, and then swap them out for newly-hatched chicks.
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She might be unwell
If your chicken is sitting on an empty nest, it could be a sign of broodiness. However, if your chicken is not eating or drinking normally, it could be a sign that she is unwell.
A chicken that is not eating or drinking enough may be suffering from a blocked digestive system, poisoning, or a virus. If your chicken is exhibiting other symptoms such as lethargy, difficulty walking, or abnormal droppings, it is important to seek veterinary advice.
One serious condition that can affect chickens that do not leave the nest is egg binding, where an egg becomes stuck between the uterus and cloaca (the tube through which eggs and faeces are expelled). This condition can be fatal if not treated, so it is important to check your chicken for this condition if you suspect she may be egg-bound.
Another potential issue is sour crop, where the crop (a muscular storage pouch for food) becomes full and mushy, feeling like a water balloon. This can be caused by too much fibrous food or water after dry layer pellets/feed. Impacted crop is another possibility, where the crop becomes hard and solid, and is typically caused by the same factors.
If your chicken is sitting on an empty nest and displaying any of the above symptoms, it is important to seek veterinary advice to ensure she receives the appropriate treatment.
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She may be laying eggs elsewhere
If your chicken is sitting on an empty nest, it may be because she is broody and is waiting to lay eggs. This behaviour is controlled by instinct, hormones, and lighting conditions. Broody hens will lay a clutch of eggs and then stop egg-laying and sit on them for about 21 days until they hatch.
However, if your hen is sitting on an empty nest for an extended period, it may be a sign that she is laying eggs elsewhere. Some hens may resist laying eggs in the nest box and prefer to lay in a different spot, such as a hidden nest outside in the yard or run. This behaviour can be influenced by the presence of other hens in the coop, as some broody hens can be aggressive and peck at other hens trying to lay eggs in the same nest. Additionally, hens typically prefer dark, quiet, and out-of-the-way places to lay their eggs.
To address this issue, you can try providing more nesting boxes or alternative nesting spaces, such as cardboard boxes or pet carriers, to give your hens more options and reduce aggression. You can also try keeping your hens closed in the coop for a few days to encourage them to lay inside again. Additionally, adding golf balls or wooden nest eggs to the nests may help your chickens identify them as safe and attractive places to lay.
If you are concerned about your hen's health due to prolonged periods of sitting on an empty nest, you may need to take steps to break her broodiness. This can include collecting fresh eggs daily to keep the nest empty, providing alternative nesting spaces, or cooling her down by dipping her underside in water or placing ice cubes underneath her.
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She might be bullied by other hens
If your chicken is sitting on an empty nest, she might be broody. Broody hens are fiercely protective of their nests and will sit on their eggs for 21 days until they hatch. However, if there are no fertile eggs available, a broody hen might continue sitting on an empty nest for long beyond three weeks, resulting in negative health consequences for her and problems for other hens.
One problem that can occur when a hen is broody is that she may be bullied by other hens. A broody hen can be isolated and pecked by other hens, who may also keep her from getting food and water. If your chicken is being bullied, you will need to either break the broodiness or isolate her until she naturally stops being broody.
Chicken bullying can be caused by a lack of space. If overcrowding is the issue, you may need to separate your flock into two coops, build a bigger coop, or rehome some chickens.
If your chicken is being bullied, you can try separating her from the rest of the flock while still keeping her in view. Chickens are social birds, and after a few days, you can return her to the flock, where she will have to go through the pecking order once again.
There are also some tricks you can try to break a broody hen and get her out of the coop. For example, you can collect any eggs in the nest right away so she can't continue sitting on them, and try to distract her with treats and entertainment. You can also try giving her a cold-water bath to help cool down her body temperature.
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Frequently asked questions
Your chicken might be broody. This is controlled by instinct, hormones, and lighting conditions. Broody hens will stop laying eggs and sit on them for 21 days until they hatch.
Your chicken will fluff up her feathers and will be adamant about sitting in the nest box. She might also become aggressive and peck at other hens when they try to lay an egg.
You can try to break her broodiness by cooling her down with a cold water bath, or by placing ice cubes or frozen peas underneath her to make her uncomfortable. You can also lock her out of the coop or keep her in a separate coop for 2-3 days.
If you want to encourage broodiness, provide a dark, private, and comfortable location for her to nest. You can also buy fertilized eggs for her to hatch.
