First timer, broody hen what do I do?

[animal nut]

MY DS has a hen that went broody over the weekend. He wants to let her hatch the eggs. Do we just let her sit on the eggs and wait? Or do we do something else?

She is in with all the other hens. Should we move her by herself?

 

[ranchhand]

It would be ideal if she could move to a more secluded area, but where she is still near the others. Some folks move them to a large dog crate, a separate area of coop or pen, whatever can be worked out.

The other hens might keep laying in her nest or she could start stealing their eggs! I suggest doing a search on BYC for broody hen and read up on it.

Good luck, a great project for your DS!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I agree, it will be great fun for both your DS & you. How old is he? My boys love watching a hen raise her chicks.

There should be a lot of info on tending broodies here, but please reply if you need more answers to your questions. Basically you'll want to give her a secluded spot, so other hens won't interrupt her by trying to lay their eggs in her nest, and so she won't get confused & return to the wrong nest on her way back from her breaks. Put her in a small crate or cage, with her own food & water handy, and enough space to get up & poop. Or make a barricade around the nest place she's already in.

Do most of your work after dark, some hens are easily disturbed & especially during the day. I wish your hen, your DS & you the best of success! Let us know if you have more questions, and especially let us know the results!

 

[animal nut]

My DS is 15. We have only had chickens for a year now. This is his special chicken so he wants to let her hatch the eggs. I know not all of the eggs are hers but that do not matter. We tried to move her to another coop that was more secluded but she did not go for that at all. We marked her eggs so that we wll know which ones are hers.