Dare I move her?

[ecajean]

My two hens went missing a while back. I figured they are setting. Well sure enough, I found them today. They both are in the garage. One is on the ground behind the welder. I'm not worried about her. But the other is on a dresser, half on the dresser and half on a picture frame that is leaning against the dresser. I see below that two eggs have already dropped and broke (empty inside). I worry that if she hatches these eggs, that the babies will fall or be pinched between the frame and the dresser. So should I move her and the eggs into the coop? I've never moved a broody hen and her eggs before. My husband says to leave them but I worry that if I do, the babies will die. They aren't going to be able to get down with out falling anyway. HELP?

I don't know when she went broody so I'm not sure how far into the incubation process that the eggs are.

thanks, Erica

 

[Harley's girl]

If you can, I would do it. Have a place all set up for her before you mover her. Those chicks would not stand a chance if they fell that far. I say go for it. Better to have tried and saved them than to not and lose them.

 

[debilorrah]

You can move her - she will be fine where ever her eggs are.

 

[ecajean]

OK I'll do it then. I'll get her a place all ready and move her. I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks! Erica

 

[saladin]

If you are going to move her and want her to hatch the eggs (provided they are fertile) then you need to do the following:

1. Move her at night.
2. Enclose her in the new nest so that she cannot possibly get out.
3. Keep her enclosed for 24 hours.
4. Remove the encloser at night.

I usually move mine into a nesting box that I cover with a towel so that air can pass thru but she can't see to get out. Don't worry about food or water for the 24 hour period. She'll be fine.