First broody hen

[Erinnlyn]

-Just updated about the set-up on page 2 of this feed with pictures.
Original post:
I have a broody hen all of a sudden. She's only 6 months old so I was not expecting this. First she had three real eggs and two fake eggs. I didn't think that the other hens would push her off the nest every day to add new eggs. Now she has about eight real eggs it looks like. I haven't picked her up off of it because I don't want to stress her out. I labeled the original eggs she had so I know what they are. She got up that one time because I caught it when another hen kicked her off. She's pretty low in pecking order I just need to get the other eggs out, but I don't want to stress her out or make her scared of us and then have her chicks be scared of us when they hatch. She's on day 4 sitting. I'm guessing I'm gonna have to pick her up right? Lol Any tips? My nest box is hard to get at from either direction...not loving my coop's design right now. Lol
Thanks!

 

[DobieLover]

I labeled the original eggs she had so I know what they are.

Remove ALL eggs that she didn't originally set.

another hen kicked her off

She should be in an area that the other hens do not want to lay in.

but I don't want to stress her out or make her scared of us and then have her chicks be scared of us when they hatch

No matter what you do with her, the chicks will not "listen" to you. They only do what their mother allows them to do. They won't take food from you and will scream their heads off if you try to handle them and you make get a face full of screeching broody hen if you try.

My nest box is hard to get at from either direction

She should NOT be setting in a nest box. She should have been moved before being given eggs to hatch.

not loving my coop's design right now

Please post pictures of your coop.
It seems like letting her hatch might be a very bad idea.

 

[Erinnlyn]

Remove ALL eggs that she didn't originally set.

She should be in an area that the other hens do not want to lay in.

No matter what you do with her, the chicks will not "listen" to you. They only do what their mother allows them to do. They won't take food from you and will scream their heads off if you try to handle them and you make get a face full of screeching broody hen if you try.

She should NOT be setting in a nest box. She should have been moved before being given eggs to hatch.

Please post pictures of your coop.
It seems like letting her hatch might be a very bad idea.

My main question was should I pick her up off the nest. -Not knowing how much this stresses them out is what I'm thinking of.- Anyway, I won't have to worry about that after I get the extra eggs out because I will section off the coop for her area only. It's my only option at this point. As I said, I was not expecting anything to go broody after a few years having chickens & suddenly I have one setting -no experience with it, that's why I'm asking questions. I will just pick her up however I can and remove eggs if I can get someone to help me sort the added eggs. I did not give her eggs. She just started sitting one afternoon. I gave it 24 hrs to see if she was going to stick with it, or leave the nest. I had a quick opportunity to see what she had under her when she got up for a moment. The fake eggs were only in there because I was trying to get them to spread out and utilize other nest boxes. Whatever chicks hatch can do whatever the mom wants. She is a very friendly cuddler, so it will be what it is.
Thanks

 

[Lor]

I also have my first broody hen. We just pick her up and put her out with the others. Pecking happens, though. LOL Unfortunately she seems to go back in there a few times a day.

 

[MountainWoman73]

She'll be just fine where she is. You can't choose where a hen decides to go broody, and you can move the whole family from the nest box 24-48 hours after the eggs hatch. I would remove the other eggs every day except for the ones you marked. Otherwise you'll end up with a bunch of half-developed chicks at different stages. Also, be prepared for her to fail at hatching eggs this first time. Sometimes young hens just don't know what they're doing. Good luck!

 

[Erinnlyn]

She'll be just fine where she is. You can't choose where a hen decides to go broody, and you can move the whole family from the nest box 24-48 hours after the eggs hatch. I would remove the other eggs every day except for the ones you marked. Otherwise you'll end up with a bunch of half-developed chicks at different stages. Also, be prepared for her to fail at hatching eggs this first time. Sometimes young hens just don't know what they're doing. Good luck!

Yeah, I'll have my daughter help me lift her and sort eggs. Definitely don't want the different stage eggs, so they have to go. lol Maybe we can sneak in a candling around 7 days to see what we've got. Thanks

 

[MountainWoman73]

My main question was should I pick her up off the nest. -Not knowing how much this stresses them out is what I'm thinking of.- Anyway, I won't have to worry about that after I get the extra eggs out because I will section off the coop for her area only. It's my only option at this point. As I said, I was not expecting anything to go broody after a few years having chickens & suddenly I have one setting -no experience with it, that's why I'm asking questions. I will just pick her up however I can and remove eggs if I can get someone to help me sort the added eggs. I did not give her eggs. She just started sitting one afternoon. I gave it 24 hrs to see if she was going to stick with it, or leave the nest. I had a quick opportunity to see what she had under her when she got up for a moment. The fake eggs were only in there because I was trying to get them to spread out and utilize other nest boxes. Whatever chicks hatch can do whatever the mom wants. She is a very friendly cuddler, so it will be what it is.
Thanks

Good idea if you can section her off. I just reach under mine to pull out the extra eggs. I don't think it bothers her much.

 

[Erinnlyn]

Good idea if you can section her off. I just reach under mine to pull out the extra eggs. I don't think it bothers her much.

Thank you. I know most birds get upset, understandably. That was my worry, that it would make her get up and not finish incubating. Sounds like maybe it doesn't affect chickens much, especially very tame ones. Thanks for sharing your experience

 

[Ridgerunner]

If a hen is a committed broody, picking her off of the nest and setting her on the coop floor will not break her from being broody. If she is not a committed broody she should not have hatching eggs anyway. When you set her on the coop floor she will probably sit there for a few seconds, then either run off to eat, drink, and probably poop or she will go back on her nest.

You have decided to section off the nest so she has her own area. Make that big enough for food and water and a little area for her to go poop. She should know to not poop in her nest but may not understand that about food and water so make that area with access so you can clean it. The hen should be locked in there until the eggs hatch and no other hen should be able to get in. That pretty much eliminates the potential problems.

I have not had many pullets that young go broody but I would not worry about her age. I've had as much good luck with first time broody hens and the few really young ones I've had as I have with experienced broodies. I've had as many problems with experienced broodies as I've had with first timers. Each time it is different, but most of my tries with broody hens are successful.

Yes, remove any fake eggs and unmarked eggs until that pen is finished. As long as the broody stays in and other hens stay out all you have to do is feed, water, and clean until the chicks hatch. Then you need to tell us how it went.

 

[Erinnlyn]

If a hen is a committed broody, picking her off of the nest and setting her on the coop floor will not break her from being broody. If she is not a committed broody she should not have hatching eggs anyway. When you set her on the coop floor she will probably sit there for a few seconds, then either run off to eat, drink, and probably poop or she will go back on her nest.

You have decided to section off the nest so she has her own area. Make that big enough for food and water and a little area for her to go poop. She should know to not poop in her nest but may not understand that about food and water so make that area with access so you can clean it. The hen should be locked in there until the eggs hatch and no other hen should be able to get in. That pretty much eliminates the potential problems.

I have not had many pullets that young go broody but I would not worry about her age. I've had as much good luck with first time broody hens and the few really young ones I've had as I have with experienced broodies. I've had as many problems with experienced broodies as I've had with first timers. Each time it is different, but most of my tries with broody hens are successful.

Yes, remove any fake eggs and unmarked eggs until that pen is finished. As long as the broody stays in and other hens stay out all you have to do is feed, water, and clean until the chicks hatch. Then you need to tell us how it went.

Thank you for all of the tips. She seems quite committed so now I won't worry so much and I will get the extra eggs out this afternoon and get her set up. Yes, she's very young, but she's very calm and seems like an old soul if that makes any sense, lol. So maybe she will do ok. I will report back on how she does with her hatch. Thanks