Broody hen problems

[Biscarit]

In a bit of a dilemma with a broody hen I have (my first one). My chickens are free to roam wherever they want, and she unfortunately decided to sit under a bush in my backyard. She’s been missing from her house the past few nights, and we uncovered her sitting on 12 eggs under there yesterday evening. I feel like she’s not very safe there at night, so was wondering is it possible to move the eggs to the coop without her leaving them?

 

[aart]

You can try.
But they get very attached to the nesting site, so you'll have to lock her in the space you decide to let the brood in.
Probably be good to confine all your birds until they re-acclimate to laying in the coop nests.

 

[Feather queen]

agreed

 

[Mrs. K]

50/50 I have never moved a broody hen and had it work. But I am uncomfortable with locking them in an enclosure, especially this time of year with the heat.

Have you been hit at night with coons or other predators? If not, I might be tempted to leave her be. I am assuming they are fertilized eggs. Do mark the eggs regardless what you do, so strays don't get in there.

Mrs K

 

[Biscarit]

50/50 I have never moved a broody hen and had it work. But I am uncomfortable with locking them in an enclosure, especially this time of year with the heat.

Have you been hit at night with coons or other predators? If not, I might be tempted to leave her be. I am assuming they are fertilized eggs. Do mark the eggs regardless what you do, so strays don't get in there.

Mrs K

I’m actually from Ireland, so we don’t have raccoons, just foxes and minks. She’s right outside my door, and my dog is nearby so I think she’d probably be ok

Yes the eggs are fertilised, and I’d like to let her try and hatch them. I’ve been leaving some food and water beside her, I assume that’s all I have to do? Would she be able to hatch chicks outside like that?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hens have been hatching outside for thousands of years with no help from humans, well before they were first domesticated. I grew up on a farm where hens did that. They'd hide a nest and then hatch the eggs.

Your obvious risk is predators. I would not be putting food or water near her. To start with, she doesn't need it. They've been hatching without human help for a long time. But that could also attract predators. I can't tell you if a predator will find her or her nest. But don't help them.