Broody question

[CrestedGirl]

We have a broody sumatra hen who has collected a clutch of eggs outside. She is in a pretty safe location. Last night when we were counting the flock she was missing, we knew that she would most likely be broody because she did the same thing last year. My question is would she be safe enough to be broody and hatch some chicks, while we would leave her outside every night to incubate them. As soon as they would hatch we would move them to a safe spot so she could raise them.

 

[ChicKat]

Hi Crested,

If she was successful last year, perhaps she could pull it off this year. Is there any chance that you could build an enclosure around her for her safety from raccoons, possums and coyote etc.? or is that something that you don't have a concern about?

IF it were me, I would get some T-posts and cattle panels and enclose where she is. (don't know your situation) (cattle panels bend) --

Let us know how it hatches out. good luck.

 

[djennings]

Do you have any predators that can get to her and the eggs? If so I would move her to a safe spot, but do it at night.

 

[CrestedGirl]

Quote:
Thank you, actually last year each night we would go get her and bring her back to the coop to be safe, but I ordered some hatching eggs hopefully she can brood. That is a great idea to build an enclosure around her, I think I'm gonna do that. Thank you so much!

 

[CrestedGirl]

Quote:
We do have predators around here, do you think moving her would make her lose intrest in being broody?

 

[CrestedGirl]

we took her in last night. As soon as I let out all the chickens she came rushing back to her nest. I have some hatching eggs that I want her to brood, but I also want her to be safe.

 

[mstricer]

You could put a medium dog crate in your coop and put her eggs in it and she should be safe I won't let her stay out side that is how I found out we had coons, the hard way, once they find that first chicken they come back for the rest. Also be careful what kind of chicks she has, my FBCM just killed three of her silkie babies just by scratching and smashing that was a 40$ clutch of babies. I had to take the last one from her and run to the hatchery to get it a brooder buddy. We learn the hard way.
Michele

 

[Ridgerunner]

That is impossible to answer. If you move her, she might break from being broody, but many people regularly move them and usually they stay broody. It just depends on the hen.

Will she be safe enough where she is? Who knows? Many people on this forum post that a hen disappeared and came back three weeks later with a bunch of babies. Other times a hen just disappears. She may or may not have been a broody setting on eggs or maybe she just disappeared anyway. Others post about a broody like that and something definitely got her.

I certainly can not tell you if she is safe enough. There is only one way to find out and you might not like the answer. I like the enclosure idea myself. Before I gave her expensive eggs, I'd either move her and make sure she stays broody or build an enclosure.

Good luck!

 

[CrestedGirl]

Ok, I put her in a dog crate with 6 eggs, but I'm not sure if she will stay broody. Is there any way I can keep to stay broody?

 

[CrestedGirl]

Anyone??