Broody Hens

[A.M. Eggs]

Hi y'all! I have recently gotten chicks and my hens must have heard them because 2 went broody (with a third likely to follow). Since my chick/brooder pen has my other chicks in it, I had to get another coop so that the hens can hatch chicks in peace. My problem though is when I put the hens and the eggs in there, they freaked out and I had to let them go out. Should I try again tonight when they are sleepy or not at all? Any suggestions would be wonderful!!!

 

[pennyJo1960]

do they have eggs in the nest for them ?

 

[A.M. Eggs]

There are only fake eggs in the place they are sitting in now. The real eggs are in the new coop.

 

[pennyJo1960]

place a few real ones worth risking 2

 

[A.M. Eggs]

I have had broody hens before. These girls have been sitting for a week now and I just need to know if I should place them in the new coop during the night?

 

[bonsaiherb]

Are you trying to 'time them out?' End the broody?
If so moving and isolating them in a NEST free COOP may work. I would move them before they get the other gals the same idea.
Moving at night is always good unless you like to get your hands pecked - they may not appreciate your intentions.
I do not understand the ...

I had to get another coop so that the hens can hatch chicks in peace. My problem though is when I put the hens and the eggs in there, they freaked out and I had to let them go out.

If you are intending for them to hatch some eggs or care for the transplanted (Gee, what have I done here) chicks - you would certainly try to do it at night. Nest material and all if possible - baking sheet scoop approach.

Your laying chickens should not be involved with broody hens or chicks.

 

[A.M. Eggs]

Yeah that makes no sense! I tend to ramble a lot... But I would love to hatch some chicks from my chickens, not put my 3 week old chicks under them. The new coop is where I want to move the broody hens and the broody hens are currently with the others going to sleep. They are in the nesting boxes sitting on fake eggs right now. I was thinking of going in the coop and picking up the broody hens and placing them on top of the real eggs in the new coop tonight. Will they accept them and relax?

 

[bonsaiherb]

I think it is worth a try. Some hens are better than others. Silkies, my Speckled Sussex for instance.
If you think you can do it without them being too skittish give it a try, but they may think the fake eggs are the real thing, so you might want to leave a few - move with the hen in one swoop and then insert the real eggs you want them to hatch.
Some broody hens will try to hatch a gadzillion eggs so the number should not matter - put the real eggs in the center and the fake ones around them.
Doing a cold turkey may not work as she will not understand the transition from the fake eggs to the new ones.
One other thing, you MIGHT try. Let some of the fresh eggs cool off - some say even to the 60ish range and it is possible you might get a greatter hen percentage as the male embryo's are more vulnerable to cold.

 

[A.M. Eggs]

My broody hens are a BR and a speckled sussux. I don't think that the male vs. female cold thing does any good. A friend of mine tried it and got 4 males and 2 females. I think I'll try the fake eggs around the real ones with my sussex as she has been sitting on about 3 of them for the past week. I guess that I just have to wait and see tomorrow if their still broody.

 

[Tiana's chickens]

I think it's best to give them the eggs at night