Can I move hen and eggs.

[fistfullofnails]

I got myself a rooster recently and he has been mating the hens. I'm hoping that one of my hens goes broody so I can have some chicks the natural way. I don't how that if one does go broody, that it will affect the others. I have two nesting boxes and seven hens. They mostly use just one of those boxes. If a hen does go broody, I'd like to separate her and put her in an isolated A-frame chicken tractor. But I do not want to separate any of them unless one actually goes broody. So, if one happens to go broody, can I just move her and the eggs to the other coop, or will this possibly have a negative effect? Is there a certain method to go about moving her and the eggs?

 

[redranger209]

Depends on the hen.

 

[fistfullofnails]

Depends on the hen.

Figures. I'll probably just leave her in there if it does happen. I just don't want other hens killing the chicks.

 

[redranger209]

Figures. I'll probably just leave her in there if it does happen.

I’d move her with only two nest boxes. She can get insanely bullied.

 

[RWise]

I would set up the pen (bachelor pad) and open it's door, put a fake egg in the nest. Each day IF/when they start using this nest as I take the eggs, I place in a fake egg (golf ball) or 2 if I take more than 1 egg. As the fake eggs build up in this nest, the girls will count them, and one just may set on them. When this happens, at night I change out the fakes for the real eggs (kept in a turner or turned at least 3 times daily) and lock the door.
As said you may or may not be able to move her, and her except it. I have had it go both ways with the same hen.
I would not let one set where the others can get in her nest, it leads to broken eggs, jumped nests, bad + bad = no chicks,,,

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

I have two nesting boxes and seven hens. They mostly use just one of those boxes.

Put a fake egg in both nests and they will likely use both.

If a hen does go broody, I'd like to separate her and put her in an isolated A-frame chicken tractor. But I do not want to separate any of them unless one actually goes broody. So, if one happens to go broody, can I just move her and the eggs to the other coop, or will this possibly have a negative effect? Is there a certain method to go about moving her and the eggs?

Remove all eggs from nests daily, a truly hormonal broody will sit on nothing.

As long as the Aframe is weather and predator proof it should work great for a broody coop. Does it have a nest similar to the ones in the main coop? If not, get one set up.
Is there enough space for the nest and a feeder and a waterer...and room to poop away from all those things? About 2x2' of open floor space would be minimum, IMO.
It would be good of the broody coop was very close to and in sight of the main coop and run so she can see the flock and the flock can see her during her confinement.

This is how I 'move' a broody hen. Once I know she's broody for sure I move her to the broody coop with fake eggs in the nest. They are not happy to be moved to a new enclosure, but if truly broody will settle down on the fakes eggs within a day or less-usually few hours. Once she's sitting tight again for a day or two, during which time I test her by stroking her face and neck, gently lifting her up to see eggs, to get her used to me checking things out. Then I give her fresh fertile eggs and start the countdown

Before you decide to hatch more chicks think about.....
My Broody Notes:
You'll need to decide if you want her to hatch out some chicks, and how you will 'manage' it.

Do you have, or can you get, some fertile eggs?

Do you have the space needed? Both for more chickens and she may need to be separated by wire from the rest of the flock.

Do you have a plan on what to do with the inevitable males? Rehome, butcher, keep in separate 'bachelor pad'?

If you decide to let her hatch out some fertile eggs, this is a great thread for reference and to ask questions.
It's a long one but just start reading the first few pages, then browse thru some more at random.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/496101/broody-hen-thread

 

[fistfullofnails]

Welcome to BYC!
Put a fake egg in both nests and they will likely use both.


Remove all eggs from nests daily, a truly hormonal broody will sit on nothing.

As long as the Aframe is weather and predator proof it should work great for a broody coop. Does it have a nest similar to the ones in the main coop? If not, get one set up.
Is there enough space for the nest and a feeder and a waterer...and room to poop away from all those things? About 2x2' of open floor space would be minimum, IMO.
It would be good of the broody coop was very close to and in sight of the main coop and run so she can see the flock and the flock can see her during her confinement.

This is how I 'move' a broody hen. Once I know she's broody for sure I move her to the broody coop with fake eggs in the nest. They are not happy to be moved to a new enclosure, but if truly broody will settle down on the fakes eggs within a day or less-usually few hours. Once she's sitting tight again for a day or two, during which time I test her by stroking her face and neck, gently lifting her up to see eggs, to get her used to me checking things out. Then I give her fresh fertile eggs and start the countdown

Before you decide to hatch more chicks think about.....
My Broody Notes:
You'll need to decide if you want her to hatch out some chicks, and how you will 'manage' it.

Do you have, or can you get, some fertile eggs?

Do you have the space needed? Both for more chickens and she may need to be separated by wire from the rest of the flock.

Do you have a plan on what to do with the inevitable males? Rehome, butcher, keep in separate 'bachelor pad'?

If you decide to let her hatch out some fertile eggs, this is a great thread for reference and to ask questions.
It's a long one but just start reading the first few pages, then browse thru some more at random.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/496101/broody-hen-thread

I can accomodate all of lodging you asked about. Included here is a pic of my A-frame I built. I also have a chicken tractor that's about 5x10 feet that I made with PVC and plastic netting. Two questions. Instead of substituting fake eggs, could I just use the eggs they are laying? I've been marking mine and collecting the day old ones while leaving the fresh ones in each nest. As for if I have fertile eggs or not. I'm not sure. I have a rooster but I'm not sure which eggs are fertile or not. I guess this is where you do the candling thing?

 

[fistfullofnails]

I would set up the pen (bachelor pad) and open it's door, put a fake egg in the nest. Each day IF/when they start using this nest as I take the eggs, I place in a fake egg (golf ball) or 2 if I take more than 1 egg. As the fake eggs build up in this nest, the girls will count them, and one just may set on them. When this happens, at night I change out the fakes for the real eggs (kept in a turner or turned at least 3 times daily) and lock the door.
As said you may or may not be able to move her, and her except it. I have had it go both ways with the same hen.
I would not let one set where the others can get in her nest, it leads to broken eggs, jumped nests, bad + bad = no chicks,,,

So these real eggs that you turn each day. Are these eggs that you have checked to ensure they are fertilized? Is the only requirement is that you need to turn them three times a day(Do I need to keep them at a certain temp as well, for example)

 

[Pork Pie]

I’m not sure if it’s viable for you, but I use plastic basins (with soil as ballast) as nest boxes. All “boxes” were at the same height and when a bird was broody, I’d give her eggs and move her to a higher level (an upper shelf in a converted shed, in my case). When the hatch was complete, they’d be moved to ground level in the coop, where momma and chicks would sort themselves out. I never experienced a chick death at the hands of another flock member.

 

[aart]

I can accomodate all of lodging you asked about. Included here is a pic of my A-frame I built. I also have a chicken tractor that's about 5x10 feet that I made with PVC and plastic netting. Two questions. Instead of substituting fake eggs, could I just use the eggs they are laying? I've been marking mine and collecting the day old ones while leaving the fresh ones in each nest. As for if I have fertile eggs or not. I'm not sure. I have a rooster but I'm not sure which eggs are fertile or not. I guess this is where you do the candling thing?

I never leave eggs in the nests, just save some in different container if I plan on hatching.
I use fake eggs until she settles down to avoid losing any viable fertile eggs.
You can look at blastodisc on yolks when making breakfast to tell if cock bird is doing hiw job or not.