Broody hen off nest

[Smuch]

Help, please.

I have a first-time broody chantecler. She has stayed on the nest pretty much all the time for 16 days and is eating well. I moved her into an area in our shop and put her in a dog kennel with the doors closed but not locked so she could get out if she needed to. I have not found any poop but one time about day five I found her dust bathing and she couldn't find her nest. When I caught her and put her back in she stayed there and hasn't moved much since. Today (again day 16), I was away and when I came home she was off her nest and I found a very big poop that must have been hers. She seemed lost again so I put her back on her nest and she settled in again. She has been doing the broody behavior--puffing up and scolding me and pecking at me if I try to touch her eggs--but I'm wondering how long it would have been OK for her to be off the nest. It could have been anywhere between 1/2 hour and 5 hours since I wasn't home to see her. I had a broody Buff Orpington who I took off her nest because she kept losing her eggs but this is the first time I've had a hen stick on her nest and am concerned about doing everything right.

Also, I need to be away on day 21 and am wondering if she will be OK on her own with the hatching chicks. I was thinking about putting the kennel in the back of my car and taking her with me.

I know this is a long post but please if anyone can help, I would appreciate it. I love my chickens.

Thank you!!!

 

[redsix]

She will know if they eggs are going to hatch she will get meaner and stay on the nest more as the hatching day approaches.

 

[Smuch]

Thank you, redsix; she's been on the nest a lot and in fact I've only seen her off twice but she seemed to get lost both times. She also acts like she thinks she's pretty mean and both times I put her back on she settled right in again. I think she really wants to be a mother hen. I'll really watch her closely the next few days.

Thanks again.