DO I MOVE HEN AND EGGS BEFORE OR AFTER THEY HATCH

[jen61871]

I have a broody hen sitting on fertilized eggs with one week to go before the eggs start hatching. I don't know whether to move her into an adjoining run and separate coop before or after the eggs start hatching?
Can someone please help me?
I have 13 other hens and 1 rooster
Right now she is in the middle of 3 nesting boxes (wide), 1-2 ft off the bottom of the coop but there are shavings underneath the nesting boxes.
My question is should she be separated from the other chickens and if so, before or after the chicks start hatching?

 

[Pork Pie]

I would suggest moving momma and chicks AFTER they have hatched. Ideally, the chicks should be raised in the main coop, and not separately. If you can set up a small area for the them, within the coop then thats ideal.

CT

 

[smcdermott]

I personally have done this 5 times since December and every one I have moved AT NIGHT TIME AND INTO A LOCKED CAGE Before hatching. I was worried about the chicks falling out of nesting boxes.
I created a nice nest and gently transferred her and eggs about 10pm.