Broody hen wont sit after moving her.

[Stevo]

I have a cochin bantam hen that has been broody for awhile now. I decided to let her hatch some eggs but had to move her because she was getting pushed out of the nestbox. So I made her a nice little section all by herself and moved her to it. She sat on the eggs until I left. Then she gets off and wont go back. If I let her back out into the coop she goes back to a nestbox and sits all day lol. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
What time did you move her? Was it at night? I usually move mine at night when they are broody. I never wait for them to hatch any babies. Mine usually go broody in the chicken house in the nesting boxes. Try moving her as late in the night as you can.

 

[chicks4kids]

I always move mine several hours after they go to sleep. Make sure you put her in a box that is similar in size, including walls, with the same bedding. That way she'll feel like she's in the same space. After a few days, you can start cutting the walls down one a day or so if you want to open it up more for her and she'll be fine.

 

[Stevo]

The first time I moved her was at dusk but they werent sleeping yet. Second time I tried in the morning at daybreak. I will try tonight while they are sleeping. I use straw in the nestboxes. Do you mean to just have straw in her new box or actually take the straw from the box she is in?

 

[Wayne&Kim1963]

I would put her in cage she cannot get out of and turn her off of nest once a day. Then keep her penned on nest rest of time.

 

[chicks4kids]

Quote:
leave the straw in there so she feels just as comfortable as she does when she's in her nest. Make sure you make the "nest"shape so all she has to do is just plop down on those eggs. Don't give her any light until morning...even then I'd leave her in the dark with just a little bit of light so she can see her food and water. She seems pretty stubborn. Good luck.

 

[chicks4kids]

She may need to be seperated completely away from the noise of everyday chicken behavior. I put my broodies in the garage...can you do anything like that? So that she has quiet most of the time??

 

[tgperg]

I moved mine onto a nest of fake eggs and saved up fresh eggs for her to hatch until I knew she was going to take to the nest. I also moved her in the middle of the night.

Traci

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Yes, this would give you the best chance of her accepting the move.