First time with broody hen, with questions

[amberc727]

Hi everyone!

I've had chickens for about 2 months now. My father had excess and gave me 10 hens and 1 rooster. He also gave me a chicken tractor that he built. For the past week, I have had a hen who I thought was broody, but wasn't completely sure since I've never had one before and I'm new to this. When I found her still on the nest last night while all the others were roosting, I thought I'd give it a try to see if she would hatch me some chicks. So, today I transferred her to a dog crate, half filled with hay, put her and her eggs in there (all 14 that she was sitting on), and put food and water in the other end. She's sitting near the other chickens, but under a tree so she'll be in the shade. She's ticked! So far, she's been out there in that arrangement for about 30-45 minutes and she's not sitting. She's standing beside the eggs. Did I mess something up? My father told me I needed to seperate her from the other hens, and I'd read about people using dog crates, so I went for it. I just don't know if it's normal for her to be angry for a little while, if she'll sit back down, or not. Help!

 

[elmo]

I've read that people suggest you move the nest at night so the hen will be less upset. I've never done that myself, though. I use lidded plastic storage bins for nestboxes, and I moved the whole nestbox with hens and eggs inside to where I wanted them to be.

Give it some time. Your hen might well settle back in.

 

[debilorrah]

It's easier to seperate them simply because the other hens will come behind her and donate eggs to her nest. This causes issues. Also, it makes the hen feels safer when they hatch. Especially when she is a nasty broody, she will kick the crap outta the other hens once something hatches!