When Your Hen Goes Broody With No Eggs

Guest Post By Karen Howeth - What the Clucks Up

Instagram: @WhatTheClucksUp

Have you ever walked into the coop and found your hen sitting in the nesting box like she has a very important job to do, only to discover there isn’t even an egg underneath her? Yep, she’s gone broody! Broodiness is hormonal, so her body is telling her it’s time to sit and hatch eggs, even when there are no eggs to hatch.

The thing we watch closely is how much time she is spending in that nest. A really broody hen may not get up enough to eat, drink or move around. When it’s hot, we pay even more attention and make sure our girls get up, have some food and fresh water, stretch their legs and get out of that warm nesting box. We aren’t trying to punish her for being broody. We just want to make sure she’s taking care of herself too.

If you’re new to chickens, this can be one of those things that makes you say, “Wait, what is she doing?”  Once you know what broodiness looks like, it’s much easier to understand what’s going on. Keep an eye on her, especially in hot weather, and make sure she’s eating, drinking and getting those much needed breaks.

Karen Howeth is the creator behind What the Clucks Up, where chicken keeping meets real life, a little humor, and plenty of feathers. She and her husband, Steve, live in Northern Colorado with a flock of around 50 chickens, turkeys, and ducks. Their birds are more than pets, they’re part of the family and a big part of everyday life, from growing herbs and gardening with the flock in mind to figuring out all the wonderfully weird things poultry can get themselves into.

Karen’s expertise comes from hands-on experience and a genuine passion for learning everything she can about raising happy, healthy birds, and then sharing what she learns with others. She especially loves helping new chicken keepers navigate those “Wait…is this normal?!” moments with practical information, real-life experience, and a healthy dose of humor. Because with chickens, there’s always something clucking up! Connect with Karen on Instagram @WhatTheClucksUp.