Collecting eggs from broody, grouchy hens

[melloladies]

I feel invincible with my chicken only oven mitts on

 

[annep]

I have not had any go broody, but, when I call them, they come, because they think I'm throwing scratch for them...They usually come flying out of the coop for it!

 

[cgtara3]

That's funny!
Quote:
It can be kind of like a game with them. We used to when I was a kid, but our hens we raised, even the broody never attacked us even once.

 

[woodmort]

If you raise chickens, you have to be tougher than the chickens--there can be no chicken, chicken raisers. Just stick you hand in, push the hen aside and grab the eggs. As long as you don't give them enough time to grab skin they aren't going to hurt that much.

 

[Judy]

Several good ideas posted. My broody wants to peck at the hand reaching under for her eggs, not whatever is keeping her head away from there. I just lay one hand over her head/neck area and reach with the other. I barely have to touch her head/neck. Or I lift her out of the nest.

 

[ScotianChick]

I had one broody SLW (broke her of it) and now have another. The one I have currently is vicious. She bites and all of her feathers stand up. I wear gardening gloves, pick her up right out of the nest and put her where ever her sisters are free ranging. Sometimes she stays out, sometimes she runs back in. I hope she enjoys sitting on those imaginary eggs

 

[shoesky]

I have a buff orphington that has gone broody. How do I break her? I heard that it is not good for her to stay broody. I do not have any roosters, so the eggs are never going to hatch.

 

[card5640]

Let them go broody and give them some fertile eggs, makes for a happier chicken.

 

[ruby]

Years ago I had a cross bantam mutt. She went broody every year. I would try to break her of it as I had no roosters. I've thrown a towel over her head. Everything you can think of.. it reminded me of her and had to chuckle. RIP Two Feathers!

 

[ScotianChick]

Quote:
Why is this everyone's answer? This doesn't exactly work for people with smaller coops or limited space... or neighbours who don't like the sound of 30 chickens. I asked for help with my broody and kept getting this answer. I have six nine week old chicks and five full grown hens and already have to expand my coop as it is

Not everyone has unlimited space for as many fluffy chicks as possible.