Broody hen returns

[Sylavash]

So I have 21 chickens 20 of which enjoy the accommodations I provide for them one I thought was dead. She is my one bantam hen, I call Clove or wild child when I describe her. She had been gone for around a month and a half. I had seen her twice in that time come to the feed in the morning.

She reappeared last week, 6 babies in tow.

I grabbed her and ask the fuzzy balls I could, put them in a dish pan and covered it with a towel and searched for her nest. Couldn't find a nest or any more babies. I brought out the totes and and shavings and made them a place in my kitchen.

I've been debating if I should have left them outside but the temperature this morning was 40*. Should i have left her outside? Does anyone else have a broody hen that hides? How can I help her this winter when the snow flies and Temps average in the single digits if I can't find her?

 

[Yardmom]

It is not unusual for hens to hide nests.
I think my hens who tend to go broody are more likely to lay in hidden nests. Now that she successfully hatched you can work on returning her and the chicks to the flock. Since she was away from the flock, a little see no touch time might be needed before integration.

 

[Mrs. K]

I interfere as little as possible. I would put them all outside ASAP. And I would let her work out the integration back into the flock. That is what she was doing when she came back with the little ones. I am betting that she came back to the flock when you were not there, to eat, dustbath and terrorize the other layers. I would be quite surprised if they gave her any guff.

Any bird hatching 6 without me or you, does not need help. She has it covered. I would let her do it the ways she wants.

Mrs K

 

[sourland]

Keep her well fed, dry and draft free, and she will do the rest.