[caerkev]

we have 4 girls 2 hybred 1 black rock 1leghorn, we started to have 1 egg a day off one hybred and this went on for 4/5 weeks, last week we started having 2 eggs a day and found out the blackrock had started laying, i have noticed that the leghorn has got into the habit of hanging around by the coup when one of the girls is laying and as soon as they leave she is straight in and sitting on the egg, although she has not layed herself.
can i stop her doing this or just let her get on with it until we remove the egg, will this stop her from laying her own egg?

[SMD66]

she might just be going in to lay, if she's not even started laying yet I would be very surprised if she were broody.  If she were broody she would be continuing to sit and refusing to come off the nest at all.  We sometimes find a new hen will sit a few times and not lay anything.  It may be worth checking that she's not egg bound, is there a hard lump in vent area?

[caerkev]

i took the egg from under her about an hour ago, she came out and had a bit of food and stayed out for about 40 min but just noticed she has gone back into coup.
we have had a few yellow youlks in coup and not sure who was doing it, have not checked her vent so i think i will sit back for now and see what is in coup when she comes out, and give her a check over. thank you for your advice .
kev

[SMD66]

she's just learning what it's all about.  No doubt she will start laying properly soon.   

[caerkev]

just been to check and the girls were fighting over something, on closer check i found it to be TWO soft shells, one brown shell and a larger white shell so i think my other hybred is trying and answers the question about the leg horn as they lay white eggs

[oddpaws]

All I can say is that you will know when one is broody. She will just park herself down, steal the other girls eggs and only remove herself to eat. Be prepared for a good pecking if you go too near! At least that was how I found out