My sweet Gypsy is broody again. The thing is this time she's in the main nest box. The other ladies got in there on her and crushed a couple of the eggs. (2 hens on them) And a young cockerel got in there and tried to do his thing. I happened to be there when that happened and grabbed him out (none too gently) (not to hurt, but to scold) off of her. Should I barricade the box? Move the box? I hate to have her little babies crushed. Not to mention broken eggs lead to ants and other things like that.
If its causing that much of a problem and her eggs are getting crushed then I would move her into a crate of some kind (make sure she has food and water)
I have put a portable cage in front of a nest box before with food and water inside to barricade the hen from the other chickens and it worked out well. If you can do that it will work. Moving is the best option but some hens want move and will get off the eggs and go right back to the old nest if they can. What ever you think will work..try moving her if she want move or goes back to old nest then barricade if you can.
I have stapled some pieces of cardboard to the nest box a broody was in so the others wouldn't keep adding their eggs to her nest throughtout the hatching period. I have done this about 2 or 3 times and has worked for me. I have a turkey that went broody on me yesterday out in my shed/pole barn and I think I am going to have to move her into a big cage I'm not using right now since she is on the ground between my ATV and my truck topper shell and I don't want any of the stray dogs or other preditors getting at her in the night (or day) while she's setting on that nest since she's not in the pen with the other turkeys now. I put 6 turkey eggs, 3 duck eggs and 5 guinea eggs under her so I'll see what hatches on June 1st. Jayare
