Do I Move a Broody Hen?

[azhenhouse]

I have a White Rock that has been sitting on some eggs in a nesting box since March 29th. Should I try to move her and the eggs to a different location so that the other hens and roo don't bother her? What should I put her in? I really don't have a brooding spot, as I thought she could just hatch them in the nesting box. However, I have been doing some reading, and that might not be the best thing for her or the chicks. She gets kicked out by laying hens in the morning but goes back to the box she is sitting in after they are done. I have six boxes but some of them want her spot

Any and all advise would be helpful. We really want these chicks to hatch. Thx

 

[Patchesnposies]

I just brought a buff orp hen into the house and put her and her eggs into a large dog crate full of straw (well, really it is the old dry bits and pieces of hay that are all over after feeding the horses and goats, but still nesting material!) so she could sit on them safely in peace and quiet.

She is doing great. She's re-assumed the position on top of those eggs and is happy as can be in the laundry room. I put a bowl of food and one of water in with her and an old throw rug over the door of the crate.

It probably depends on the hen how she will handle it but I think she would be happier with a place of her own.

 

[2468Chickensrgr8]

I have a broody hen in the coop nest boxes ....I have marked the eggs I want hatched out with a big X and everyday when I collect eggs I check under her for extra's ...she's a cranky old bird so I have to wear long sleeves ...usually my other broodys let me collect eggs from under them the ones that I dont mark with an X.
Also when I have a bunch go broody at the same time ...I either go buy some eggs if I want a different breed and put them under her and sometimes I place some in small dog crates with food and water ...so the others have nest boxes and I dont have eggs getting broken ...

 

[azhenhouse]

Thanks!

 

[txcarl1258]

I had the same problem except I had three broodies and only 4 nest boxes! Luckily I use milk crates so I just picked up the crate and stuck her in the broody hut. I had to take one of them out because she kept rolling her eggs to the front of the others boxes and stealing their eggs!

 

[azhenhouse]

Well, I am going to try to move her. I sure hope I don't make her leave the eggs. She went broody on me for the entire month of December, and at the time we had no rooster. I tried so hard to get her to leave the nest then, and she wouldn't. Hope she has the same determination now. Do you think a small dog house in the bottom of the chicken coop would be o.k., or would the other hens still bother her? It is open in the front so she and the others could walk in and out of it. My other option is a large pet carrier that can be closed shut. Which would be the best?

 

[nhnanna]

My broody is in the kitchen in a big box full of shavings. I usually take her out once a day to do her poop but when I forget, I am reminded by a horrible smell. She is on day 18 now sitting on 22 serama and banty eggs.

 

[Patchesnposies]

Quote:
I use a carrier that can be closed. It isn't so much that the other hens will bother her, per se, it is that the other hens or a rooster will eat/peck to death the babies when they hatch. Once they hatch and are of a good size you can reintroduce them to the flock the mama will be good about keeping the others away.

I have used the carrier method out in the pen, just making a pen within a pen, so you could do that with the dog house, too. I brought my broody in because we home school and it was a wonderful lesson for the kids to watch unfold. We have done it a number of times now.

In my experience, the hen seems grateful for a safe place, relaxes and settles down to business.

Good Luck, let us know how it goes.

Deb

 

[Patchesnposies]

Quote:
Gotta love a broody hen! She is adorable! It will be comical watching her take care of 22 little seramas and bantys! lol

 

[Beth K.]

I put a bowl of food and one of water in with her and an old throw rug over the door of the crate.

Do broody hens prefer to be sorta covered?