First Time Broody and Several Questions

[NorthernMIFlock]

Sorry this is a long post, but I am new to chickens. I have a buff Orpington named Sunny that just turned 1 year on 6/4. The very next day she started making herself really big at roost time and making deep clucking sounds. On the morning of 6/7 she was in the nest when I let the others out, and hasn’t left since. Everything I have read is she is broody as she is huge and flat in her nest box and growls at anything that comes near her. So, since we don’t have a rooster anymore, I got some eggs from my friend who has several roosters and placed 6 under her, removing her egg. So, here are some questions, any insight is appreciated!
1. She is in a low box which none of the other 8 chickens really use for laying, should I attempt to move her if no other girls bother her?
2. The eggs have not been candled for fertility, when should I try to check them? Will she allow me to to this? Will I need gloves to handle them?
3. I’m not 100% sure but think she has not left the nest at all. Should I try to hand feed and water her? Also, should I try to remove her to poop? How often?
4. Because her box is a couple feet off the floor, I think I will try to move her when/if the chicks hatch, are they safe on the floor with bedding and maybe some extra walls around mama and them?
5. Because it’s her first time brooding, when will I know for sure she is committed to the 21 day sitting?
6. Due to her wiggling around, I think she has moved most of the straw off to the sides of the crate, so I think the eggs must be sitting right on the plastic milk crate, is this going to be a problem?

 

[AGirlAndHerChickens]

View attachment 1808702 Sorry this is a long post, but I am new to chickens. I have a buff Orpington named Sunny that just turned 1 year on 6/4. The very next day she started making herself really big at roost time and making deep clucking sounds. On the morning of 6/7 she was in the nest when I let the others out, and hasn’t left since. Everything I have read is she is broody as she is huge and flat in her nest box and growls at anything that comes near her. So, since we don’t have a rooster anymore, I got some eggs from my friend who has several roosters and placed 6 under her, removing her egg. So, here are some questions, any insight is appreciated!
1. She is in a low box which none of the other 8 chickens really use for laying, should I attempt to move her if no other girls bother her?
2. The eggs have not been candled for fertility, when should I try to check them? Will she allow me to to this? Will I need gloves to handle them?
3. I’m not 100% sure but think she has not left the nest at all. Should I try to hand feed and water her? Also, should I try to remove her to poop? How often?
4. Because her box is a couple feet off the floor, I think I will try to move her when/if the chicks hatch, are they safe on the floor with bedding and maybe some extra walls around mama and them?
5. Because it’s her first time brooding, when will I know for sure she is committed to the 21 day sitting?
6. Due to her wiggling around, I think she has moved most of the straw off to the sides of the crate, so I think the eggs must be sitting right on the plastic milk crate, is this going to be a problem?

I have been through this a couple times with my flock. Happy to help!
1. I would move her to a secluded area. I had a silkie laying in my main group once. She didn't appear to be bothered, but when I checked under her, I discovered that the other hens were laying more eggs underneath her. It may also be a problem to move them when chicks have hatched, as the Mama will be even more aggressive and likely to peck you if you touch her babies.
2. Candle them fairly often to check fertility and growth. It's hard to say whether she'll peck you or not. It all depends on the temperment of your hen. I've had it both ways with different girls. You may want some gloves if she seems like she'll peck you.
3. She is smart enough to know when and how long to leave the nest. I would not bother to tend to her unless you notice her losing weight or turning pale. There shouldn't be any poop in the box because a broody hen holds it in until she gets up for a food and water break. Then it comes out in one heck of a large stinky pile that smells like nothing you've ever smelled before.
4. Like I said before, seclude her. Make her a ground level nest and use something that doesn't have holes in it or cover the holes with something warm and comfortable. Like a towel? A hen of mine tried to use a milk crate once, but all of her eggs went bad because of the holes. If you can, move her WITH the crate somewhere else. I've had issues with moving hens and their eggs separately, and the hen neglecting to sit on them because she didn't recognize them as hers. Move the crate with her inside, if possible.
5. I haven't had trouble with a broody quitting before she's finished with the whole 21 day period. Usually my problem is the opposite.

Happy to help with any other questions you might have! Hope you get a bunch of fluffy babies!

 

[starri33]

I'm with my first broody as well. she started off in one of the regular nest boxes, the others kept laying eggs either when she'd get up or they'd get in the nest box with her, after one of the eggs were broken, I moved her and the eggs to a crate inside the main coop. She gets up and eats, does her thing when I open the door to the crate. I candled her eggs at 12 days, she's due to hatch in 4 or 5 days, I'll check them again tomorrow just to ensure everything is fine.. she's likely to peck at you, but they generally don't draw blood. crossing my fingers for your hatch to turn out well.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

This is our first year with broodies and I asked the same questions. Several of our broodies stick so tight to their eggs that I worry for their health. Counter to the advice of more experienced broody owners, I take those girls off their nest. With our BCM, I took her off once every other night, let her in the run or coop with food and water, and she did her thing. I have a silkie that I’m worried about; she never gets off, barely eats, doesn’t drink, and she’s losing weight so I get her off twice a day. I take her outside the run because her flockmates attack low ranking broodies. I’ve been offering a lot of fruit since she’s not drinking. I’m soaking scratch in water tonight to try tomorrow. My last broody gets off on her own and is not bothered by the flock.

 

[Col1948]

More info here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/broodiness-cycle.1314116/

 

[Trux]

I have been through this a couple times with my flock. Happy to help!
1. I would move her to a secluded area. I had a silkie laying in my main group once. She didn't appear to be bothered, but when I checked under her, I discovered that the other hens were laying more eggs underneath her. It may also be a problem to move them when chicks have hatched, as the Mama will be even more aggressive and likely to peck you if you touch her babies.
2. Candle them fairly often to check fertility and growth. It's hard to say whether she'll peck you or not. It all depends on the temperment of your hen. I've had it both ways with different girls. You may want some gloves if she seems like she'll peck you.
3. She is smart enough to know when and how long to leave the nest. I would not bother to tend to her unless you notice her losing weight or turning pale. There shouldn't be any poop in the box because a broody hen holds it in until she gets up for a food and water break. Then it comes out in one heck of a large stinky pile that smells like nothing you've ever smelled before.
4. Like I said before, seclude her. Make her a ground level nest and use something that doesn't have holes in it or cover the holes with something warm and comfortable. Like a towel? A hen of mine tried to use a milk crate once, but all of her eggs went bad because of the holes. If you can, move her WITH the crate somewhere else. I've had issues with moving hens and their eggs separately, and the hen neglecting to sit on them because she didn't recognize them as hers. Move the crate with her inside, if possible.
5. I haven't had trouble with a broody quitting before she's finished with the whole 21 day period. Usually my problem is the opposite.

Happy to help with any other questions you might have! Hope you get a bunch of fluffy babies!

OP, this is good advice, especially number 4. I use milk crates as nest boxes but mine have plywood bottoms with sissal nesting pads,so no problems having eggs getting cold. And I had to move my broody to a different pen and pick the crate with her in it and moved her, and no problems with her quitting the nest.