Broody Hen Thread!

[fisherlady]

Ok, when I do move her, if I put a movable pan under her first, when I do move her, which I will do at night, do I have to worry that she might jump out of the pan? I have never moved one at night... Or are they just so docile that I don't have to worry about that?

I would put the pan under her and let her rest and resettle for at least a few hours, or get her nest into the pan one evening and move her the next evening.
Hold one arm under the tub, your other arm over the bird, have a helper drape a towel or similar darkening cloth over your arm to keep everything dark.
Have a helper to open any doors or if you have to work on your own then have doors open so you have an open path from original nest to new nest.


EDIT TO ADD...in my experience the hens tend to be very quiet at night, the smoother and darker the move the more likely you are going to be able to pull it off successfully.

 

[Diney]

I would put the pan under her and let her rest and resettle for at least a few hours, or get her nest into the pan one evening and move her the next evening.
Hold one arm under the tub, your other arm over the bird, have a helper drape a towel or similar darkening cloth over your arm to keep everything dark.
Have a helper to open any doors or if you have to work on your own then have doors open so you have an open path from original nest to new nest.


EDIT TO ADD...in my experience the hens tend to be very quiet at night, the smoother and darker the move the more likely you are going to be able to pull it off successfully.

Thank you for all your advice, much appreciated.

 

[2lilchkns]

Hi all--- we recently had a pullet go broody in a nest box the coop. We're total newbies at this, so I let her stay where she was. When she left her nest to eat one day, I marked her eggs--- she had 9. Unfortunately, every day she manages to collect 2 or 3 more. Every night, I have been briefly lifting her off the eggs so I can remove the extras. Is this bad for the eggs? I always have to pick up and turn a few to check for the mark (live and learn--- next time I will draw a circle going all the way around the egg). I am worried that it isn't good for me to lift her off the eggs daily--or to turn them to look for the mark. But, I am not sure how else to check. Since I work, I am not home during the day, so I usually can't catch her when she is off the nest. She has about two weeks left to go. If I don't check somehow, she will quickly end up with more than 12 under there, which I assume would be too many for her to cover. Thanks.

 

[harrellkd]

Moved my broody hen the other night. Made her a nice set up then waited til dark as others had suggested. I moved the non fertile eggs she had been sitting on with her. The next day she seemed settled into her new broody house, so I waited until dark and replaced her non fertile eggs with 13 fertile eggs. Next morning she had broken one and pushed the shell of the side, but I assume the other 12 are still good. She is being a great broody so far. I'm excited for her! Thanks for the advice on moving her!

 

[fisherlady]

Hi all--- we recently had a pullet go broody in a nest box the coop. We're total newbies at this, so I let her stay where she was. When she left her nest to eat one day, I marked her eggs--- she had 9. Unfortunately, every day she manages to collect 2 or 3 more. Every night, I have been briefly lifting her off the eggs so I can remove the extras. Is this bad for the eggs? I always have to pick up and turn a few to check for the mark (live and learn--- next time I will draw a circle going all the way around the egg). I am worried that it isn't good for me to lift her off the eggs daily--or to turn them to look for the mark. But, I am not sure how else to check. Since I work, I am not home during the day, so I usually can't catch her when she is off the nest. She has about two weeks left to go. If I don't check somehow, she will quickly end up with more than 12 under there, which I assume would be too many for her to cover. Thanks.

You are better off lifting her and removing 'imposter' eggs than letting them remain. Eggs cooling for a few minutes isn't a big deal until the last couple of days.
To make it easier for you to identify the extra eggs I would just take a marker out to the coop, pull her eggs one at a time and mark a circle around the center, set the marked egg onto a soft towel and repeat the process with all the other eggs, then return the whole clutch to her. Handling them once this way will reduce the amount of handling needed later in incubation at a more critical time. Since you say she is on day 7+ you can also take the opportunity to candle and pull clears.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Next morning she had broken one and pushed the shell of the side, but I assume the other 12 are still good.

She was trying to tell you----12 is All I want--13 is a unlucky number---LOL. Good Luck!

 

[harrellkd]

I think so!!! Lol!

 

[microchick]

Guess she never heard of a baker's dozen!

 

[harrellkd]

It's her first hatch.....I told her she has a pass this time, but she's going to have to do better than 12 next time

 

[steve232]

Harrellkd tell those broody feelings to come on down the mountain. I've been waiting all spring for one of my 11 hens to decide to go broody so I can hatch a few more.