Lavenders_Blue Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 One of my ex bats, Queenie, has for a few weeks now being going into the coop on a daily basis, sitting in the nest box like she is going to lay, but not actually producing an egg. She seems to be fine in all other respects, not unwell, and a bright and perky hen but I'm a bit confused as to why she would sit on the nest and 'go through the motions' without actually laying an egg? She did lay a softee a few days ago, but I am fairly certain this is completely unrelated! I'm not bothered about the lack of eggs, just wondering why she would sit on the nest if she doesn't have an egg to lay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 She could be broody - if she is hotter than normal this could be the case. Or she could possibly be egg bound - does she seem uncomfortable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 25, 2010 Author Share Posted August 25, 2010 Thanks chickyhazel for your thoughts. I'm fairly certain she's not broody, she's sitting on the nest for about an hour as if she were laying an egg then hopping off and carrying on as usual! I don't think she can be egg bound - for starters she would have been egg bound for about 2 weeks and I'm fairly certain she wouldn't still be with us if that were the case. And she doesn't look miserable or hunched or straining I had wondered if she was egg eating, but when she passed a softy the other day she showed no interest in in at all, she just toddled off. All very peculiar indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterwren Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 My ex battery Beryl does this, I get very excited when I see her go into the nest box that this might be the day she lays her egg! But every time I go to check after she has left the nest theres nothing there . Like yours she very happy toddling about, eating drinking and pecking my wellies. Maybe its learnt behaviour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 25, 2010 Author Share Posted August 25, 2010 Oh that makes me feel better that Queenie isn't the only one! Every day when hubby comes home, he asks how many eggs the girls have laid and my answer is invariably something like "3 real eggs and a phantom egg" Maybe you're right that it's a learnt behaviour. I suppose after laying all those hundreds of eggs it sort of becomes a routine. It just fascinates me to wonder at what point she thinks, "Right-o, time to head off and pretend to lay an egg" and then, "Well this is going nowhere, best head back down for a snack" I do love watching my girls and all their funny little behaviours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
