Do I need to move my broody hens?

[sandy sea]

I am going to try to move them to their own dog crates tomorrow night. The two broody are sitting in the most popular nest boses.

 

[chickenlips1954]

I leave my broody(s) in the large coop with all the other girls until hatch day. Then I move the eggs and broody to the separate brooder box and let her hatch and care for her babies safely away from the others. During the time she is sitting on her nest in the large coop, I mark the eggs I want her to hatch, so that I can remove any extras laid by other hens. If another hen takes over her clutch when she gets off to eat and drink, I either move the marked eggs back under her if shes settled into another nesting box or remove the other hen and move her back to her clutch of marked eggs. So far I've had great success in hatching this way.

 

[sandy sea]

You mark the eggs that you want her to hatch and remove the others. Does the broody hen peck you really hard when you try to remove the un marked eggs? I tried that today and she peck me so bad that it was almost bleeding. So you move the broody and eggs around day 19?

 

[Sunny Side Up]

That certainly is one way to keep broodies, and I'm glad it's working well for you & your birds. It's a method worth a try for anyone else's flock, but it's not always guaranteed success. I think it would work best if you're available to check on the hens in the nest boxes many times a day. Otherwise the broody can leave the incubating eggs -- either to go take a break or because another hen bumped her off the nest -- and return to a different nest box & begin setting on those eggs. Meanwhile, the eggs that were beginning to be incubated may be left to go cold if there isn't anyone to sit on them.

Laying hens like to follow trends, and a nest with an egg already in it is very attractive to them. "Look at that" they say "other hens think that's a good place to leave an egg, it must be right!" A nest with a brooding hen is especially appealing. "Wow, she thinks that's a great place to raise her chicks, it really really must be a great nest site! Move over, lady!"

 

[sandy sea]

I guess that is true. I have 7 nest boxes and they only use 2 or 3 of them. The two broodies are in the 2 most popular ones. If I do not move them out of the best boxes and they are still covered with the baby gate I am sure that I am going to have some really mad hen tomorrow.

 

[sandy sea]

Another question. I use pine shavings in the nest boxes, should I try to change the broodys nest to hay or straw when I move them.? Maybe add straw or hay on the top?

 

[alanb]

I disagree on switching egg's ... unless you know the age of both nest's !! The first four or five that hatch , she will leave the nest with the new chicks and the older eggs on-attended .... Seperate her from the other Birds ? , YES !!! ..... ALAN B .

 

[BellLisamo]

Quote:
i have hay in the broody suites

 

[sandy sea]

Tonight when I move the two broody hens and eggs into their new dog crates should I replace the wood shavings with hay or straw? Would it be better to just use the old shavings that the eggs are on now or maybe add the hay or straw later? I do not want to stress out the girls in their new dog crates?

 

[BellLisamo]

Quote:
if you move them at night im sure they wont know the difference.