Broody or Not?

When I got home from work on Thursday, Fitz was laying in the small dirt bath in her isolated quarters within the coop.  She did not stand and squawk and stumble about for treats and escape like she normally does.  My silent alarm sounded.  I let the other birds out into the yard and lifted Fitz into the coop.  She took a few slow steps, puffing up her body as she moved.  She labored to peck around a bit and then watched her make her way to the coop and into her favorite nesting box.  Note that she had already laid a beautiful speckled egg that morning.

One word kept flashing through my brain: Broody.  I've read a lot about chickens going broody and thought she was showing the signs.  The birds will get a hormone spike and want to lay on their eggs (or golf balls, in this case) and only rise a couple times a day for food, water, and toilet breaks.  I went to one of my favorite sources for a refresher The Chicken Chick on hens and broodiness.  That evening Fitz refused to leave the nesting box so we let her spend the night keeping her golf balls warm while Lou and Bill hung out on the roost and tough-girl Bruiser slept in the garage.

Come Friday morning, Papa Hen found a soft egg in her nesting box while she went into the coop for some food and water.  Maybe she was feeling a little under the weather because of the softie?  Then she went back to the nesting box (not before Bruiser caught Papa Hen and Fitz off guard by sneaking around and jumping on Fitz's back--apparently the feud is still alive and well!).  Papa Hen put the broody breaker techniques recommended by The Chicken Chick into place.

When I arrived home from school Friday evening, Fitz was back to her old self.  She is however, under strict supervision.  Broodiness can leave a hen in bad health since they don't eat or drink much during a spell.  Also, the other chickens will often play copycat.  We don't need 4 broody hens!