Broody help again :/

[crazychicken]

I have A BR I suspect may have gone broody, she is in the nest well after I have collected eggs with a blank look on her face. Last time I had a broody her nest got flooded and I had to scrap all the eggs I cleaned it and put new shavings in it all in under thirty minutes but she did not take even with fake eggs in there so I regretfully let her slip back into normal life. now to keep that from happening again, I plan to do this.

1.) The nest she is in is way too low which could lead to flood problems, if tonight she is indeed broody I will raise the nest. a little higher off the ground so it is not just sitting there.

2.) Another time I tried to move another broody, because she was still in the big pen, but she got mad and destroyed the eggs and nest. so I have chicken wire could I like stake it off and put some wire around and on top to make a temp broody pen I would hate to move her.

this would be my BR's first time so who knows she just might be the one to stick with it till the end. the other hens I have told you about had well you heard from what I said above.

Any one see anything wrong or have any suggestions ?

 

[Goose and Fig]

Could you get the brooder pen all ready, and then move her nest & all after dark? That might lessen the shock a little. I have moved my entire nest box during the day (hen would not budge) and now we have lots of babies running around. It's nice for them to be seperated from the flock once they get a hatch anyway.

 

[crazychicken]

I might be able to rig something up, we live in the city and they always have the most terrible timing... but I suppose she is not like an incubator that needs to be constantly watched. we are going to TN for 4 days as soon a school ends but she should only be about a week along once we get her set with eggs assuming she is broody, she is still on the nest with a determined face. As for moving the nest it is attached to another so I would have to cut the piece of wood keeping the two together then I suppose I could just pick up the entire nest box.

 

[walkswithdog]

You can't move turkeys like you can chickens most of the time. If you can cut it free you might stand a better chance of success but anytime you move a turkey nest they consider it a ruined site and that predators got their eggs/ruined the nest. That's why they don't reset. It's not SAFE to. Penning her where she is may be your best bet.

I had one move successfully once. So far that is it 1/6. They're more acutely aware of their environment, they don't think it's safe, they won't set again. It can be frustrating.

I hope it works for you.

 

[Dirt Road]

I hate to be so dang dumb, but is your broody a chicken or a turkey?? I assumed a BR was a barred rock.

Jim

 

[crazychicken]

Quote:
She is a Barred Rock Chicken.... But I guess there are BR turkeys too

She is still on the nest and all the others are on the roost I will monitor her tomorrow to see how determined she is, big storm a-comin hope she stays dry.

 

[Dirt Road]

If you move a broody at night, with as little commotion as possible, to a pen where she can not just walk back to her old nest they will usually stay. She will jump up at first light and look around but if she can't get back to the old nest she will ordinarily get back on the new nest within an hour. It is my opinion that a broody hen which will not move successfully, will usually make a poor setter, and will not be trusted with eggs around here. ( BR turkeys=Bourbon Reds.....)

Jim