Can I move my broody hen and her eggs to a stall in my barn?

[cellis]

I have my first broody hen and just got some likely fertilized eggs from a neighbor for her to sit on. But now I have to isolate her, right? I hear a lot about putting broody hens in cages but is there any reason I wouldn't move her into an empty stall in my barn? My barn is HUGE and all the farm animals are on the other side on a lower level so I have a bunch of empty stalls that nobody's used in years. Any advice about this?

Thanks!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Many broodies refuse to be moved. The key, I've read is to keep them confined, but I haven't had any luck relocating them.

 

[cellis]

Ah. So if I forcibly remove her and her eggs to the barn is there a possibility she won't sit on them anymore? There's a gate in there - I think I could confine her to a stall. When you say they refuse to be moved, do you mean they flip out and make it hard to move them? Or they don't stay where they're put?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Most will immediately return to where they were sitting, and if confined will pace, they like the spot, it doesn't matter to most whether there are eggs or not. You certainly can try it. I usually allow them to hatch where they choose than move them when the chicks hatch.