Am I the only one using gloves to get eggs from a broody hen?

[Nifty-Chicken]

Okay, I'm a wuss! Whenever I've got a broody hen she goes broody on the box that all the other girls use and insist to continue using. I end up with a bunch of eggs piling up under a broody hen.

My wife won't even go in there with gloves on so I get to do it. I have to push the hen off the eggs and endure the crazy-broody pecking in the process.

In the past it was only my Buff Orp. that went broody, but now my Delaware hen is broody.

Please tell me there are others that don't like getting pecked either.

 

[pasofinofarm]

You are not alone! I hate getting pecked and wear gloves if I know it's comming. Still sometimes I am not expecting it and ...ouch!

I usually take your wifes route and send my husband to get eggs from under my broody.

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

I don't wear gloves, but I should.
I've got 30 or more broody hens and some of them get crabby about me stealing / checking eggs.
There are 3 especially bad ones, Polish x Silkie cross girls, that will draw blood

One of them has the nasty habit of flying off the nest and attacking if I don't move fast enough. All 3 girls look alike, so I never know which is the one that may *surprise* me.

Lisa

 

[DuckLady]

 

[keljonma]

Our only pullet to go broody so far has been our Jersey Black Giant, who has gone broody twice since December.

She is so gentle, she only raises her hackles and glares at us when we remove eggs from her while she is broody.

While they are broody and waiting to hatch a clutch, they don't lay eggs. You can break a broody if you don't have fertilized eggs and/or aren't going to have her raise a clutch of chicks.

Remove her to a cage or small area without any nesting material. Make sure she has food and water. It takes about 7 to 10 days, if you let her be broody for a while. After that, it takes about 2 weeks for her to start laying again.

 

[Weewanona]

I've got a Buff that's broody right now and man can she bite!

I don't wear gloves though - just hold her around the neck (GENTLY but firmly) with one hand and riffle the nest with the other getting everyone else's eggs.

 

[momof3]

I wear gloves too. If I have long sleeves on I pull my arm into them go for the eggs. So far I haven't had a non gentle broody yet. Of course since I just typed that I'm sure I will soon.

 

[bigzio]

I sweet talk my broody hens before I dare to collect eggs. I don't wear any gloves, but do get yelled at from mom to be and do get pecked on the top of my hand.

I spend alot of time with my flock daily, making me a chicken mentor for sure.

Don't know if that is good or stupid, but it makes me happy!

bigzio