Broody Hen

[Teppler]

I recently had one of my girls go broody, I do not have a Rooster so I secured some fertile eggs and placed them under her. She seemed to be satisfied but now the other 4 hens try and use the same nest to lay their eggs and right now I have 2 hens on the same nest with the broody hen. they are fighting over the same nest. Any ideas about what to do if anything? Maybe best thing to do is to let them figure it out on their own..

 

[ChemicalchiCkns]

If you want the BROODY to hatch those Eggs, move her, them, the nest to a separate inclosed coop and little yard with food + water. Otherwise it will all get messed up.

 

[Teppler]

Same hen went broody two years ago and I tried moving her and she immediately stopped hatching.

 

[ChemicalchiCkns]

Do you move her at night or in the day?

 

[Willow2253]

You could also fence off her nest in the coop so the others don’t have access. Don’t let the others continue to use her nest. They may end up kicking her off her eggs or break them.

 

[BDutch]

It is too restless for the broody if the other hens disturb her all the time. Best thing to do (imo) is as Willow says. Fence off the broody with enough space to walk around a bit for a daily break and later for the chicks too. Make another laying nest for the other hens.

 

[BDutch]

If its impossible to fence of the broody. Here’s another strategy that worked for me:
Put the laying nest in a box or the bottom of a box with raised edges on the same spot as it is now. Do you have a spare coop you can use for a broody/chicks or can you make/buy one?
Next night you can move the broody in the box to another separated coop where she can breed without disturbance.