Hen decided to set up a nest outside the coop?!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flock Leader 

Hi guys, I'm new on the forum (although I've been visiting backyardchickens ever since we got our first flock!). 

 

We recently built a new coop for our hens, with nice straw-lined nesting boxes where they are laying. But in the last two days I've noticed one of the hens found a shady private spot where she sits without stirring practically all day, and doesn't even come to the coop at night. Is it possible she decided to set up a nest there? So far there are no eggs, but she just sits on that spot. Some of the other hens came to pick on her, and still she doesn't move, just fluffs up her feathers and sits there like a great feathery ball.

 

I know this season is right for brooding. The chooks we have are not pure-breed, but that one is supposed to be mostly Brahma, and I've been told they tend to go broody. Actually we've been trying to hatch chicks ever since the weather got warmer, but none of our other hens sat on the eggs for more than an hour. Currently we have a clutch of eggs which might still be good for hatching, and if we have a broody hen, we'd love to get her to sit on them. 

 

Questions:

 

1) Is it possible that the hen decided to set up a nest of her own outside the coop? I've noticed she has the lowest place in the coop hierarchy.

 

2) The spot the hen chose is obviously unsafe; she sits on the ground and is exposed to predators. If we move her into the coop and try and get her to sit on the eggs of the other chickens, can it work?

 

Many thanks!

Well, I think the only thing crazier than a chicken, is a guinea. She could certainly be broody, even without eggs. Are you sure she hasn't laid some in her chosen nest and had them removed by a predator, perhaps a snake? In my humble opinion, based on years of experience, I think you should move her to a private quarters, perhaps a dog crate. Set up a nest with the eggs you mentioned along with food and water and move her at NIGHT, so she wakes up there in the morning. Be sure to stress her as little as possible. Moving a broody is always a crap shoot, but you have nothing to lose. Good luck.......Pop

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lollipop 

Well, I think the only thing crazier than a chicken, is a guinea. She could certainly be broody, even without eggs. Are you sure she hasn't laid some in her chosen nest and had them removed by a predator, perhaps a snake? In my humble opinion, based on years of experience, I think you should move her to a private quarters, perhaps a dog crate. Set up a nest with the eggs you mentioned along with food and water and move her at NIGHT, so she wakes up there in the morning. Be sure to stress her as little as possible. Moving a broody is always a crap shoot, but you have nothing to lose. Good luck.......Pop

I agree.

When I was a kid we had black Australorps, and kept the flock at around twenty-five. One Spring one of the hens went missing, Dad was concerned so I got up early one Saturday, and looked and looked. I found her about 100 yards form the coop all broody deep in a Blackberry briar.

We put up a chain link fence around the briar she was in, and she got special attention until those chicks hatched. I can't remember how many she had, but they were accepted right into the flock, and our roo just strutted and strutted around over those chicks. He was so proud of 'em.

If you can move her, that's a great idea. Our rooster wouldn't really let us in far enough to get her. And he stayed with her every night. Though he would fly OUT of the enclosure in the morning. Amazing animals.
 

Get her safe ifya can, if not, fence her in as best you can.

 

I think they can be traumatized if they saw like a predator attacking not so much sensitive only my opinion ..  I just recently moved a broody hen .. when they are really broody it seems like they will with stand a move and adopt eggs nicely .. I have had way to many I thought were going broody and after a few hours just up and go on their merry way .. My Chickens are always making what I call sneaky nests .. I am constantly on the hunt .. Especially when I notice I didn't get to many eggs. If its a nice nest in my daily route I leave them and collect from there and they still go in the coop at night ..They  have a beautiful little nest now behind a hay bale and almost every day I find one duck egg and 4 other chicken eggs. they seem to like it and I check daily .. Others such as over a creek bank in prickers I try to kick away and make as unpleasant as I can for them to continue laying there .: ) But I kind of like it every day is a bit of an Easter egg hunt for me .

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flock Leader 

It was not a predator. It was their perch, which wasn't attached firmly enough (made us feel so irresponsible later on...), fell, and broke one hen's neck. We were very sad. 

 

Update: I just checked on her, and she's sitting on part of the clutch now. Is it possible that she's letting a different part of the clutch cool off each time? It's very hot in Israel at this season. Is there any sense in continuing to try and move her so that she sits on the whole clutch, or is it better not to bother her? She doesn't look ill or distressed, she simply sits on the nest as if there is no place she would rather be in the whole world, if you know what I mean. 

The nest has to be arranged so that she can cover all of the eggs, all of the time. Perhaps she has more eggs than she can cover comfortably. In any event, if she isn't covering all of the eggs, a poor hatch will result. The problem is that she will rotate warm eggs out in the cooler air as she turns them and none will have a chance, unless some manage to stay under her. The only "cooling off" allowed is when she leaves the nest for necessities. Hopefully the weather and higher temps will aid in her success. Good luck.........Pop