Broody hen thread

[kuchchicks]

I decided to let my Broody hen have some eggs. She doesn't seem to be the brightest tho. She kept going back to the wrong box. I blocked off the box she wasn't supposed to be going to and that seems to have solved that problem. However the box that she now wants to lay in is the "coop favorite"! There are 3 other boxes available however no one will use them. The other hens, if she is on her eggs will lay on the ground... No big deal. BUT when she gets up to get food/water/etc it becomes a mad dash for the other hens to go lay in that box. I found 3 extra eggs in there this morning all from different hens. When I went in there someone else was laying on her eggs and she was standing there waiting to get back in. I removed the other hen and she immediately jumped back in.

So a few questions.
First- is there a way to keep others out of her box? (I doubt it)
Second- should I move her to her own coop? I am afraid if I move her and she is not in "her nest" that she will not lay on them.
Third-with all of this shuffling do these eggs even have a chance or should I try to break her broodiness? What will the other hens and roosters do to the chicks?

Sorry for all of the questions. I incubate a lot but never used a broody before.

 

[song of joy]

I found that it works best for me to isolate the broody (but keep her in view of the flock) during incubation, hatch, and for 4 days after the hatch. This eliminates the nest box shuffling that can result in broken eggs, a staggered hatch (from the extra eggs that are added), and the need to be vigilant in removing the extra eggs every day. It also frees up your nest boxes for the hens that are still laying

If you move her, she may need a day to settle down in the new location. However, provided she can't get back to her old nest location, she will probably accept the new site. Do this at dusk or night. When I have to move a broody, I usually do the move and let her sit on fake eggs to make sure she'll remain broody. As your hen has already been setting, this isn't an option unless you want to start over with a new batch of fertile eggs. Assuming she takes to the new nest site, you should be fine with the eggs she's currently incubating.

A good broody will protect and integrate her chicks into the flock. The flock will respect mom and her chicks, or she will quickly and assertively teach them manners. Just make sure you have lots of room for them to work with. Also plan on multiple feeding stations and watering stations. If you keep mom and chicks isolated from the flock for too long (e.g., several weeks), it usually becomes more difficult to integrate, as mom will likely be done mothering and protecting the chicks.

I hope this works out for you, as it is truly a joy to watch a mother hen with her chicks. You won't believe how much work this will save you! (no heat lamps, brooder, dusty house, etc.)

 

[kuchchicks]

What do you think the chances of her abandoning the eggs if I move her to the other coop? My Bator is full right now and could not add her eggs until around 9/22 which would be day 18 for her.