First time broody hen, need advise

[aizarra]

Ok I just went back out and put the eggs right next to her with some bedding. I’ll have to check in morning if she got them under her.

 

[lazy gardener]

Put her and the eggs back into the original spot and she may go back to sitting. It might not be too late if it was hot out today.

This would be my plan at this point as well. I think I'd have been inclined to leave her and her nest alone, then moved her and babies at night after they hatched. That being said, I just had great luck moving a broody hen and her nest box in the middle of day 19. She accepted the new location, and her eggs started hatching on day 20.

 

[aizarra]

Well hind sight I would have left her until they hatched then moved them after
Thanks

 

[dunnmom]

Well hind sight I would have left her until they hatched then moved them after
Thanks

Did she take the eggs back?

 

[aizarra]

No, unfortunately she did not. I placed them right next to her on the ground and next morning they were scattered all over. I'm pretty upset, but lesson learned I guess. I put her back in main coop and she's back to her non-broody self.
Thanks for asking
Angela

 

[Kfults]

 

[aizarra]

Ok, update again. So I go out there this afternoon and she's back to sitting on a whole new set of eggs! I put 2 more under her, but jeez. So now we're back to square one. 3 weeks and this time I'm not moving her until after they hatch! If a move her then, she's won't abandon them will she?

 

[Barbs Girls]

It might just work this time!!!

 

[lazy gardener]

Does she have a dedicated broody pen so she can't abandon her clutch of eggs and go sit in a different nest? Or other birds can't enter her nest, drive her off, step on her eggs and break them??? Personally, I'd not allow her to set for an other 3 weeks. Setting is very hard on a hen. They loose a lot of condition during that time. IF she's not going to mother her chicks, I'd break her broodiness.

 

[aizarra]

She is back in the main coop with the others. She apparently wants to be there. I don't think the others will be an issue. They weren't the last time. I would like for her to keep them and mother the chicks. The only thing I worry about is her getting enough food water. I was taking her a small bowl of water and food the last few days before she last batch debauchery. I'll keep an eye on her. And now my new problem ...I have a rat that's decided to home itself in the coop. I have 2 traps set so hopefully it'll be gone in morning...and yes the traps are set where there is no way the chickens can accidentally get to.
Oh and did I ever mention she's a white wyandotte - I think or a white orpington, I have both kinds.