Broody hen

[abbymckinn]

Hi! I am new to BYC, and I have a campine hen who is thinking about going broody. She is laying in a secret spot behind some bushes instead of the nest box and is spending a lot of time there. But he gets off or a while to peck around an then goes up at night. My question is, should I let her nest there? I really really want a broody! But I don't know f it is safe to leave her out of the coop over night?

 

[Veer67]

I don't think it's safe for a hen to be outside and broody because predators will likely find her. Is she walking around with fluffed up feathers and clucking weirdly? Because I've had a couple of my Easter eggers laying in private places like in a pile of branches even though they weren't broody.

 

[abbymckinn]

No, she just waits till all the other hens have walked off and then she runs to her secret spot. Lays an egg, and stays there fiddling over her nest for a while! She has been on it for several hours today, I really want her to go broody, so is there anyway to move her to a safer spot while keeping her broodiness?!

 

[drumstick diva]

Doesn't sound like she is totally committed - most broodies will not come off to eat/drink/poo - they have to be removed from the nest so they will do so, and then hurry back.

Do you have a rooster? You can't have fertile eggs without one.

 

[abbymckinn]

Thanks! And I have heard some hens kinda "test out" being broody and once they have enough eggs will go full broody. No, sadly our neighborhood won't allow Roos ;( but if she does go broody in a safe place then I was going to buy some fertile eggs. Any ideas on how to make her go full broody? Or when she does move her to a safe place and still be broody?!

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, abbymckinn, and

! Pleased you joined our flock!

 

[abbymckinn]

Haha thanks! Redsoxs

 

[Veer67]

Thanks! And I have heard some hens kinda "test out" being broody and once they have enough eggs will go full broody. No, sadly our neighborhood won't allow Roos ;( but if she does go broody in a safe place then I was going to buy some fertile eggs. Any ideas on how to make her go full broody? Or when she does move her to a safe place and still be broody?!

You could put her in a room with food and water and dim the lights.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

 

[abbymckinn]

Ok.. Should I do this after/if he goes broody? Or before to try and encourage full broody?