Broken Broody hen?

[Jmwah_12]

Hello all, it’s been a while since I’ve last been on here, but I have a concern. I have one silkie momma who’s been very broody and very protective Of her eggs. But i also own large black sex links and barred rocks and dominques who bully her off the nest because they are bigger than her, but she manages to hold her ground. But i recently changed out the nesting box as they were getting quite dirty so I just added some more bedding but she keeps looking for the nest so I’m unsure that maybe I might have broken her out of it on accident? Is this normal or should I change it back to how it was before? Her eggs are about to hatch maybe a few nother days or so so I’d hate to have to take em out when she’s been there that long. Any advice on broody mamas and flock behavior as well? I noticed my bigger hens would pick on her and sometimes if they got the chance, to eat her eggs.

 

[azygous]

Altering a broody nest with eggs in it almost always disrupts the process, and sometimes it causes the broody to abandon her nest completely. Leave the eggs in the nest with clean nest material and just hope she returns.

As you run into these issues, it can present problems and occasionally we choose the incorrect solution. Don't feel badly. It's a great lesson and offers opportunities to make changes so next time it works out much better.

One thing you might notice is that having a broody nest mixed in with egg laying nests is not the best idea. For reasons you've already arrived at, you may be thinking a broody nest is better off in another location so incubating eggs aren't broken and when the chicks hatch, the babies aren't injured and killed by the other hens.