Broody hen issue

[gtb66]

I have a Barred Rock that has gone broody. I marked six eggs for her to sit on, but she leaves the marked eggs and sits on newly layed ones. Is this common or do I have a screwy bird? Last year I isolated the broody hen in a 6’x12’ space under the coop but she didn’t like it and never sat on the eggs. I must be doing something wrong. Any thoughts?

 

[Debbie292d]

She maybe left the nest to eat/drink, came back and saw two nests with eggs, and sat on one of them as she just wants to sit on eggs, it doesn't matter which ones.

I'd try to keep gathering the other hens' eggs as often as you can so that the only ones in there are the ones under your broody.

That's a good idea you have them marked. What often happens is another hen will come lay an egg in that same nest and this way you'll know if that happens and can chuck it.

 

[aart]

I always found it so much easier to separate a broody.
But I have a temporary wall I put up in the coop with a floor nest.
Once I know I've got a broody, I put fake eggs in the floor nest and put her in there. they will fuss and flail but if really broody they will get in the nest and settle in. Only after she fully cleaves to the floor nest(usually within a day) do I give her fresh fertile eggs to hatch.

 

[gtb66]

She maybe left the nest to eat/drink, came back and saw two nests with eggs, and sat on one of them as she just wants to sit on eggs, it doesn't matter which ones.

I'd try to keep gathering the other hens' eggs as often as you can so that the only ones in there are the ones under your broody.

That's a good idea you have them marked. What often happens is another hen will come lay an egg in that same nest and this way you'll know if that happens and can chuck it.

That makes sense. Will the marked eggs that have not been sat on for half a day still be viable? Should I leave them in the nest or pull them?

 

[Debbie292d]

That makes sense. Will the marked eggs that have not been sat on for half a day still be viable? Should I leave them in the nest or pull them?

An hour is pretty safe, but 4 - 6 hours, I'm sure several, if not all, will have died most likely. Do you have a bright flashlight you could candle the eggs at night when the coop is dark? There could be some alive and you'd hate to throw any of those away.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

That makes sense. Will the marked eggs that have not been sat on for half a day still be viable? Should I leave them in the nest or pull them?

Any progress yet? Our broody would at times stay off for 4-8 hours every now and then and still had a successful hatch.