Any tips for finding hidden nest?

[Perris]

@aart no my coop is just for sleeping and laying in, there is no run attached (they are 100% free ranging). And I have rubber eggs, one in each nest box. Since the broody took over the favorite nest box, one of the other girls has continued laying in the available box, one of the others started laying in a cardboard box in the garden shed (door always open), and the third is the problem one. @Stepnout I have a dog crate, which I used for integration purposes some months ago. If I use that, should I keep the problem one in there till the broody's done, or will it put her off laying? If I put the broody in there it might break her before the eggs hatch...

 

[Stepnout]

@Stepnout I have a dog crate, which I used for integration purposes some months ago. If I use that, should I keep the problem one in there till the broody's done, or will it put her off laying? If I put the broody in there it might break her before the eggs hatch...

Unfortunately I’ve not the experience to comment on your question. I was just thinking to give her a new comfortable option/choice in the existing coop.

 

[Perris]

no worries - thanks anyway!

 

[aart]

If I use that, should I keep the problem one in there till the broody's done, or will it put her off laying? If I put the broody in there it might break her before the eggs hatch...

I would have put the broody in the crate....might be too late tho.
When are eggs due to hatch?
Be better to leave all 3 (2 + Broody?) confined to coop that to stick the stealth layer in a crate.

What does your coop look like?

 

[Perris]

Many thanks for the advice @aart. Apparently she'd been sitting for about a week before we got back from hols; after reading up about broodies I decided to get some eggs for her; they're not due till Aug 11. Might moving her work?
my coop is this one, https://www.greenfrogdesigns.co.uk/chicken-lodge-large, which is not designed or intended for anything but sleeping and laying in. I've only confined them in it for 24 hours when they were first acquired, so they knew this is their new home.

 

[aart]

Oh, yeah, that's really tiny.
Probably works fine for 3 birds, until a situation like now crops up.

Not sure I'd risk moving broody, plus.... where would you put crate?
I move them and let settle with fake eggs then give them fertile ones.
You could try moving if you want to take the risk and maybe lose the eggs she's on.
Curious, do you have plans for a larger coop once those chicks, with the inevitable 50% males, hatch?

Not sure how to get your stealth layer to comply, it's one of the issues with free rangers...am not familiar as mine are confined to large coop and run.

 

[Perris]

it's tricky isn't it? I guess I'll press the shed into service again (it's served as a nursery when I've bought pullets before) once they've hatched. There are only four eggs, and with a novice broody and novice chicken keeper, I'll consider myself lucky if I have to face the issue of overcrowding...how does it go? don't count your chickens until...?! :/

 

[aart]

.how does it go? don't count your chickens until...?! :/

well, I suppose.
But with 'chicken math' it's better to count on more when planning space.

 

[RWise]

Here is what I do to find hidden nests (with EE$s I can often tell who is not laying). I put the hen/pullet in a dog crate in my living room for the night. The next ray I watch her closely, as she becomes more and more frantic to get out and go lay that egg. When she is very frantic about getting out I take her out turn he loose and follow her to her nest. Once found I decide what to do with it,,, it may take a couple of tries to get this down.

I had a girl that hid her nest every time she started laying. And would go broody every 12 eggs. (I did not want chicks from her, I did give her eggs, she could only cover 6)

Good luck!

 

[Perris]

thanks! I'll try that!