Broody Hen Problem

[hannahsflock]

So I went out to the coop last week to check for eggs, and I had a broody buff orpington hen! For definite. She would puff up her feathers whenever I came near, growling and pecking when I tried to take the eggs out from under her. There were feathers in the nest and she had bare batches on her chest. I left her, even though that nesting box was the favorite among the other hens. I once had another broody hen, and I moved her, not at night as the other hens had already started pushing her out of the box, and she stayed on the new nest for about a day, then got off and never returned to it. So I decided to leave her and let nature take it's course. I came out later in the day, and she was off. Acting like a normal hen again.

Today, the same hen was on the nest. A different nesting box, but still a favorite

. From what I've read, it's best to move them at night. That way it won't break their broodiness. She was a definite broody. Same as last time, growling, fluffing up her feathers, and scooping the fake eggs underneath her (I decided to first see if she would stay on the nest for a few days before I gave her a real clutch) etc. Later on, she was off the nest. Not acting like a broody hen anymore. She hasn't returned since, and it has been a couple of hours. The fake eggs are ice cold now. I really wanted chicks! Am I doing anything wrong? Should I move her, even if it's not at night? I think the other hens kicked her off as it is the favorite nest box.

I would really appreciate some advice from broody experts!

Many thanks,

Hannah

 

[Monkeybean415]

I would wait it out and see if her instincts kick in more. We hatched some eggs with a broody last month but she went partially broody a few weeks before she went all the way. Just keep monitoring her. If she stops leaving the nest for big stretches of time give her eggs. It's still normal for them to leave the nest for an hour a day

 

[Den in Penn]

I wait for at least three nights to see if they really are broody before I move them. If they are spending the nights in the nest and trying to during the day they, have proven they are broody and not just flirting about it. I move them at night because they are eaiser to move and can get settled in during the night. It helps confine her in a partitioned off corner of the coop or in another place entirely. So it sounds like you did everything right enough. It just that the hens weren't comitted to it.

 

[hannahsflock]

Thank you for the advice. She has been on the nest everyday for the past 2 days now. Every morning I see her, but in the afternoons she leaves the nest for the day. I have a feeling she is collecting eggs. I will wait and see.