2 broody hens

[iluvfamly]

I have 2 broody hens in separate flocks. One will not stay in the same nesting box and I want them both separated from the other hens in their flocks. I rigged up a "broody hen pen" with a wall of lattice between them. I waited until evening to move them and their eggs. The next morning I went out to a mess. They had both knocked over their boxes and therefore spilling the eggs and each breaking one. I put the eggs back in the boxes hoping they might settle and get back on them. However when I went back out yesterday evening, neither of them had set on their eggs and one box was knocked over again. I decided to put them back with their own flocks. What did they do, but go right back to the nesting boxes and start setting again. I don't know what to do. With the one, she apparently got up to eat and when she went to get back on the eggs, there was another hen in the box so she just went to a different box. Also, I am afraid when the chicks hatch they will fall out of the boxes and not be able to get back to the mama. And that the other hens will hurt or kill them. Does anyone have any suggestions? The one that keeps moving around to other boxes went broody last year. We moved her to a second coop that was empty and she did fine and hatched 1 chick. But now I do not have an empty coop to put her in. Please, any help would be appreciated.

 

[azygous]

I really sympathize. Unfortunately, broody hens are super fickle creatures. If you do manage to move a broody and get her to stick the new nest, you're extremely fortunate.

I have a broody right now that wants nothing to do with the lovely broody nest full of fertile eggs in my special broody coop with its own exercise yard. Instead, she's presently sitting outside in the corner of the broody run, and if I let her out, she goes right back to the empty nest in the main coop.

About all you can do is shut the broody hens up in the special nests you've fixed up and hope they will eventually accept the new nests.

 

[Cyprus]

Can you take pictures of your nesting boxes? And the coops.
Do you have any large dog crates available?

 

[aart]

When I move a broody, I use fake eggs.
Only after she settles on the nest for a good 24 hours do I give her fresh fertile eggs.
Can take a full day for them to accept new surroundings and nest,
meanwhile they fuss and pace and complain.

 

[iluvfamly]

Thank you. I think I'm just going to leave them where they are and hope for the best!