Does a broody nest box have to be on soil for the humidity?

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brummie

brummie

Songster
9 Years
Aug 30, 2013
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Complete newbie when it comes to using a broody hen for hatching.

Does a broody nest box need to be on soil/earthen floor for humidity? I read somewhere that the hen needs the humidity from the soil for the eggs? OR can the broody nest box be on a wooden base high above the earthen floor without any direct source of dampness/humidity?

Also, if the nest box is on earthen floor, will that help encourage broodiness in a hen as compared to if the nest box was higher up on a non-earthen/soil base like wood?

Thanks.
 
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I have wooden nest boxes on the wall and the hens set and hatch in them just fine. I don't think it matters to the hen if it is on the floor or up higher. Is she is laying her eggs there she must like it and when she lays enough eggs to become broody then she will start setting. You can watch the weather and see what the humidity is in your area. I wouldn't think the nest would need to be located on damp soil unless you were in a very, very dry climate.
 
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I have hens hide nests from me every year.

Best one?? Next door in a garbage heap, inside of a smashed Pepsi carton. Trust me, they can hatch anywhere.
 
So my nest boxes which are a couple of feet off the floor with a wooden base and pine shavings in which the hens are more than happy to lay in, should be humid enough, they won't put off any potential broody?

I got the humidity in nest box issue from here. They seem to suggest it is very important to the extent that you should even put some soil into the nest box if it is not on earthen floor.
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Seriously. The hens will do fine in a wooden box. off of the floor, with NO added soil. The humidity mostly comes from the hen, who has plucked her breast bare of feathers. And when it is too hot, she raises herself up and hovers over the eggs to cool them. I watched 2 Old English game hens hatch 2 clutches last spring ans summer. It was fascinating to see how they did it.
 
Thanks guys. That settles that then, and saves me a load of extra hassle trying to make nest boxes on the floor.
 
Same here its not rocket science it just all mostly depends on the hen if she happy to lay her eggs there then she will hatch there. Mine have hatched in a nest box with just hay loads of times only ever lost 1 egg out of 5 hatchs :) good luck with yours
 
I have been wondering something. If a hen goes broody in the egg box in the coop which is up a ramp 3 feet off the ground how do the chicks get down to eat or drink? Are you support to move the chicks to a box on the ground and the broody will stay with the chicks on the ground? Thank you!
 
The chicks can just use the ramp, if you want to move them you can but sometimes it can be a bit stressful for the chicks and the mom it depends on how tame your hen is. I move mine into a separate area wen they hatch until the chicks are four weeks just to keep them safe from my cockerels.
 
After all the eggs hatch that are going to I move the hen and chicks to a pen with food and water in it so they can start eating and drinking.
 

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