Snowdog, all I know is what I' ve been told. that a hen that is settin will stay on her nest night and day. except for leavin the nest in the daytime to feed, drink, and dust.
but, last week, the last week of our season, I saw one hen fly up on the roost at dark, and 5 more hens fly off the roost right after dawn.
now, either the " hens stay on their nest night and day" is a myth, or the breedin season was runnin way late this year, or these hens hadn' t been bred, which is unlikely, since those 5 were with a jake. not sure, but I do know that this has been the worst season ever for gobblin here on our lease.