Broody keeps changing boxes! WHY???

[CarlieO]

I have a hen (well, pullet actually) who just went broody (first time) 4 days ago. She was laying on a clutch of 5 eggs. Today I went out there and she had abandoned them and moved to another nesting box. I'm getting irritated that she won't stay in one spot as the eggs she's 'wasting' are potential profit for me as eating eggs (or chicks, if she would have stayed put). Now I have to throw them away.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what causes a broody to change nesting boxes?

She's in a coop with other chickens and roosters. I've toyed with the idea of moving her to her own spot but I already have 6 pens to deal with daily and don't really want to add another just for her. Plus I was afraid that moving her would cause her to lose her 'broodiness.' If she continues killing embryos I'm going to have to try to break her broodiness.

On a side note, yesterday she got off the nest to eat and my turkey hen took over her eggs. The broody hen was pacing back and forth behind the turkey making all sorts of noise. I pulled the eggs from the turkey and put them in the nesting box next door. I watched the broody hen walk back into the chicken coop, spot her eggs in the new box and run right over and settle on them right away. I figured all was well.

Thanks!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

That’s not tremendously uncommon. What usually happens is when the hen goes out for her daily constitutional, another hen is on her nest laying eggs when she gets back, so the broody gets confused and goes to another nest. Some hens are more prone to that than others.

I had that happen a couple of years ago. When I went to the coop in the afternoon the broody was on the wrong nest. Her eggs were cold to the touch. I put her back on them and she hatched 11 out of 11. What was even more surprising to me, they were a full day early.

 

[CarlieO]

That’s not tremendously uncommon. What usually happens is when the hen goes out for her daily constitutional, another hen is on her nest laying eggs when she gets back, so the broody gets confused and goes to another nest. Some hens are more prone to that than others.

I had that happen a couple of years ago. When I went to the coop in the afternoon the broody was on the wrong nest. Her eggs were cold to the touch. I put her back on them and she hatched 11 out of 11. What was even more surprising to me, they were a full day early.

Wow, glad to hear they all hatched! I put the 'abandoned' eggs in front of her (she was making a HUGE fuss and I didn't want to get pecked, lol) If this massive rain storm ever moves through I'll go back down to the barn and see if she accepted them. I don't know if I should just separate her or just leave her in her comfortable environment.