- Apr 6, 2008
- 714
- 15
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I have had chickens several years but this is my second broody and the last time was a 100% failure I attributed to heat and humidity, a sister hen trying to set with her and owner stupidity.
I have a black australourp who is due to hatch on Aug 7. She is in a pen with a roo and other hens. She gets off the nest in the early morning and this morning as a couple of times in the past I heard a lot of disturbance and went to investigate. When she is off the nest someone else gets on and has probably laid in the nest. I did not mark them; my bad I know, and she has had some broken eggs. I did not have a good option for moving her until a few days ago but I was afraid she would break broodiness and I don't have an incubator.
This morning the hens were persistent in getting on her nest for when I left thinking they were settled down I returned in an hour and another hen was on the nest. She puffs up and acts broody but she is really a nice hen and since she is having problems protecting her nest I am not sure she will protect her babies. She is also less puffy and dazed looking now than she has been.
Can I move her tonight to another pen or is it too late? I can move part of the other hens to another pen but will the disturbance upset her? I can probably fix a fence around an area for her and her chicks if that would be best.
They are housed in a 10x10 dog pen. I can no longer free range due to predators so everyone is a bit ill anyway.
Any suggestions appreciated. I know I should have marked eggs, moved her, etc in the beginning but I can't change than now. I am trying to continue to raise chickens inspite of predators and my own health issues.
I have a black australourp who is due to hatch on Aug 7. She is in a pen with a roo and other hens. She gets off the nest in the early morning and this morning as a couple of times in the past I heard a lot of disturbance and went to investigate. When she is off the nest someone else gets on and has probably laid in the nest. I did not mark them; my bad I know, and she has had some broken eggs. I did not have a good option for moving her until a few days ago but I was afraid she would break broodiness and I don't have an incubator.
This morning the hens were persistent in getting on her nest for when I left thinking they were settled down I returned in an hour and another hen was on the nest. She puffs up and acts broody but she is really a nice hen and since she is having problems protecting her nest I am not sure she will protect her babies. She is also less puffy and dazed looking now than she has been.
Can I move her tonight to another pen or is it too late? I can move part of the other hens to another pen but will the disturbance upset her? I can probably fix a fence around an area for her and her chicks if that would be best.
They are housed in a 10x10 dog pen. I can no longer free range due to predators so everyone is a bit ill anyway.
Any suggestions appreciated. I know I should have marked eggs, moved her, etc in the beginning but I can't change than now. I am trying to continue to raise chickens inspite of predators and my own health issues.
