Broody hen taking all my eggs!

[Cookies-Chickens2004]

I am a work in progress and learning everyday. Tomorrow I will be putting 3 new parts to the puzzle of breaking a broody hen into place that I didn't get right the first time.
Wish me luck

 

[Mrs. K]

Or take the eggs out of the incubator and put them under her?

 

[aart]

I made 3 mistakes. 1. I used the tray for the crate because the crate's wire bottom has much larger holes than the top and her feet and legs would go right through it. So tomorrow I'll flip it upside-down and use it that way. The top has normal wire holes and she can walk on it normally. 2. I didn't raise the cage up off the floor of the coop for air flow under her. 3. I didn't release her at nightfall to see if she returns to her nest or goes to her roost.

1 & 2 are pretty significant aspects to breaking.
If you flip the crate, bungie the tray on top, I've seen tell that they can get out of the larger holes on top.
I lined the bottom of my crates with 1x2" wire mesh.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rates-a-good-tool-for-every-chickeneer.72619/

Should I block her nest?

I release from crate an hour or so before roost time.
I do not cover the nests because I want to see if she'll go to roost or nest.

 

[Cookies-Chickens2004]

Or take the eggs out of the incubator and put them under her?

That's an idea...but I'm doing both for the first time. It was her idea to become broody after the incubator eggs were 2 weeks in. I still want to follow through with the incubator process with my grandkids this first time. I'm sure she'll be broody again.
So I've decided I'm going to let this play out and I'm going to let her hatch her clutch of eggs although she's sitting on an empty nest right now. I'm sure with her stealth strong motherly nature she'll have a clutch in no time. Here's to motherhood!!

 

[Mrs. K]

Once they hatch, give them to her to raise up. Way easier.

 

[Cookies-Chickens2004]

Thank you, Everyone for your advice. I appreciate this forum's support and have learned to rely on the diverse education and rich knowledge available within the BYC members. The BYC members are quite generous with their experiences and learned knowledge of chickens and share it with the newer chicken raising community freely which is much appreciated. Thank you again!

 

[Cookies-Chickens2004]

That's an idea...but I'm doing both for the first time. It was her idea to become broody after the incubator eggs were 2 weeks in. I still want to follow through with the incubator process with my grandkids this first time. I'm sure she'll be broody again.
So I've decided I'm going to let this play out and I'm going to let her hatch her clutch of eggs although she's sitting on an empty nest right now. I'm sure with her stealth strong motherly nature she'll have a clutch in no time. Here's to motherhood!!

Update:
Yesterday, I gave her 2 eggs - marked them and she is sitting on them now. As I marked the eggs she ran out of the coop to eat with the flock and drink some cool water - (it was 99 degrees here yesterday in central Ohio). After a bit she was right back to her nest with her 2 marked eggs. I don't think I'm going to give her more than 4 eggs to sit on. She really acts like she's lost her mind. I hope once she hatches these chicks she gets her mind back.
Her name is Clara, and she's a Black Copper Marans.

 

[NatJ]

Yesterday, I gave her 2 eggs...I don't think I'm going to give her more than 4 eggs to sit on.

Since you gave her two yesterday, I would not give her any more.
If you give all the eggs on one day, the chicks will all hatch about the same time, which usually works best.

If you give her eggs on later days, there will be a point when she has both eggs and chicks and has to choose whether to stay on the nest (already-hatched chicks are hungry) or get off the nest (unhatched eggs get cold.)

 

[Cookies-Chickens2004]

Since you gave her two yesterday, I would not give her any more.
If you give all the eggs on one day, the chicks will all hatch about the same time, which usually works best.

If you give her eggs on later days, there will be a point when she has both eggs and chicks and has to choose whether to stay on the nest (already-hatched chicks are hungry) or get off the nest (unhatched eggs get cold.)

I've only given her two eggs and marked them #1 and #2. I just hope when this is all said and done that she excepts these eggs and chicks and raises them without an issue. I know they are not her eggs and she will be raising chicks that are actually from my other hens. So far she's been an excellent mother - protecting her clutch and not leaving them but for very short periods of time to eat, drink, and relieve herself. I hope she successfully hatches the 2 eggs and this is a sign of the kind of mother she will be. Hopefully she'll take good care of her brood this way.

 

[aart]

I know they are not her eggs and she will be raising chicks that are actually from my other hens.

She doesn't care about that.

I've only given her two eggs and marked them #1 and #2.

Make sure you check daily and remove any other eggs that get laid in her nest.