Under natural conditions most birds lay only until a clutch is complete, and they will then incubate all the eggs. Many domestic hens will also do this – and are then said to go broody. The broody hen will stop laying and instead will focus on the incubation of the eggs (a full clutch is usually about 12 eggs). She will sit or set fast on the nest, protesting or pecking in defense if disturbed or removed, and she will rarely leave the nest to eat, drink, or dust-bathe. While brooding, the hen maintains the nest at a constant temperature and humidity, as well as turning the eggs regularly during the first part of the incubation. To stimulate broodiness, an owner may place many artificial eggs in the nest, or to stop it they may place the hen in an elevated cage with an open wire floor.
So I was trying to stop her broodiness by putting her into chicken jail and not letting her go into the nest box. I felt bad for her tonight when I came home and I picked her up to re-join the others and she immediately jumped into the nest box. sigh. I guess it's chicken jail again for her tomorrow.
A picture of chicken jail (it almost looks like the brown ones are talking to her to figure out an escape plan)
