Broody hen with not accept move; try moving after hatch?

[Tracyree]

So I've tried moving my broody hen from main coop nesting box to a nice secure, quite broody house. Twice. I did it in the dark of night last night. Today she was up pacing, grumpy and the eggs were cold.

So....moved the eggs and her back to her chosen spot. The nest box in the coop. Not ideal as the other hens go in and out, laying in the box next to her and even in her box (maybe harassed her out?). She goes right back in to sit when the other leaves.

So I can't see any other choice but letting her brood right where she wants.

I don't want little chicks there though. I use electric netting and they'll go in and out of it, right? Although I suppose mama would just call them back in?

Would it be too dangerous to try to move her and the chicks if/when they hatch? Might that cause her to reject them?

 

[luvmypets]

Try moving after hatch... Shes settled on her nest area and doesnt want to move..

 

[GraceBeth]

Leave the eggs where she wants them. Mark them so that you can tell that they are hers and take the ones that aren't marked out. I have a hen that has 4 chicks, they can go through the wire, the hen calls them but they do not come all the time.

 

[donrae]

I agree with leaving her and being sure the eggs are marked. My hens hatch eggs brooding in the coop with no issues. After everyone hatches and she's ready to leave the nest you can move her and the babies.

 

[BayBay Peepers]

I just went through this. I had a determined broody in my main coop. Eggs kept getting broken so I tried to move her. She abandoned the eggs to return to the main coop. I made extra nest boxes so the other girls had more options. Then a second one went broody... The chicks just hatched three days ago and I moved both girls with their babies to their own area. Neither one has made any fuss as they are too busy tending to the little ones. So, all in all I think you would be just fine to move her after the hatch. Good luck with your chicks