Advice on checking broody eggs

[DawnM]

We have a broody hen that is hatching out chicks right now. My daughter is freaking out because the only thing I will let her do is listen and she wants to lift the hen every few hours to check progress. The hen isn't happy being moved but she doesn't fight it either. It's also her first hatch so I don't want to disturb her too much. Is it safe to move her that often? I'm afraid it will mess with the temps/humidity and cause problems, like lifting the incubator lid when they are in lockdown. Does anyone have any experience or advice?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd leave her alone. You might or might not mess up humidity or something like that. You might disturb her to the point she gets defensive or just confused and stomps around, hurting a chick. Also, I've killed a chick before by picking up a broody. The chick had climbed up under the broody's wing. When I grabbed hold of her to pick her up, I crushed the chick.