Found a nest in the bushes...now what?

[dragonmorgan]

I found a nest with around 12 eggs in it today. It's my first time and now Im not sure what to do. My chickens are free range and refuse to sleep in the coop. While walking through some tall weeds and brush today I stumbled upon a chicken laying in the grass. I hadn't seen her all morning, and thinking about it I realize she's been missing most mornings here lately. Usually she lays in our cows hay bale like our other hens but for a while now I haven't been gettin as many. I figured the dog was eating them or something (since I haven't been getting any EE eggs either lately and our dog will eat the eggs if I don't check for them before I let her out). Anyway I don't have an incubator but I would love it if she hatched these eggs out. If I move them and her into an enclosure will she keep sitting on them or will she just abandon them? How can I keep predators from gettin her, or the dog from gettin the eggs?

 

[Granny Hatchet]

put a cage over the eggs ,nest and her. cover it to protect from the climate.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

2 things.
I would move her and the eggs to an enclosure where you can provide food, water and a predator proof space. If she's really broody, all is well.
To get the birds to sleep in the coop, one needs to lock them inside for at least 2 nights so they know where home is.

 

[sepaditty1]

2 nights might do it. 2 weeks would do it for sure!

 

[dragonmorgan]

they used to sleep in it but my lead roo got killed and the second in command roo likes to sleep in the trees. I'll try and get them in and leave them in for a while and maybe he'll get the hint.

if this is her first time brooding will she abandon them if i move her? can i just stick a kennel outside and put them in it and leave the door open all day and close it at night? would that work?

 

[TheEggCollecter]

I keep my birds in the coop for a week when I first get them that way they know where to eat where to sleep and WHERE TO LAY

 

[dragonmorgan]

Ok I took one of our smaller kennels and put some hay in it and all the eggs and her. She wasn't thrilled about it but maybe she will be ok. I left the kennel in the bushes to help her adjust. Fingers crossed that she sticks it out and hatches us some chicks. Maybe this weekend I can get something better for her set up.

 

[AmericanMom]

Ok I took one of our smaller kennels and put some hay in it and all the eggs and her. She wasn't thrilled about it but maybe she will be ok. I left the kennel in the bushes to help her adjust. Fingers crossed that she sticks it out and hatches us some chicks. Maybe this weekend I can get something better for her set up.

I wouldn't move her too much, could cause her to snap out of the broody... If she is secure where you have her and will stay I would leave her be, sounds like the kennel might work, make sure she has plenty of fresh water and feed and get up to go poo every day, also, I give mine a boiled egg yolk every other day...

Good Luck!!!!

 

[dragonmorgan]

thanks. Yea I'mma try and just leave her be. I'll go out first thing in the morning and let her out and put out some extra food and water close by, since she chose a spot out of the way and in a bunch of tall weeds. The kennel is pretty small, one size up from a cat kennel, so it's just big enough to be her nest but not so big that I can leave her in it the whole time she broods. I'm thinkin it's still pretty early in the incubation of them since I checked them with my light as I moved them and I didn't see much goin on inside (not that I know what to look for really). I am tryin so hard not to get my hopes up about these hatching. It's my first time with a broody hen and her first batch too (obviously). The roo is an EE and she's a red sex link so who knows what they will look like.

I do feel kinda bad for the roo though. She actin just like a preggo lady. She rejoined the flock this afternoon for a little while to eat and scratch around and he was followin her around and doin his little dance in front of her and she'd just go around him. Denied!

 

[sepaditty1]

I felt so bad for mine when she was broody. She'd come out to eat & roo would grab her 7 do his thing. I know it's not the same, but I remember being pregnant. "Spending time" with hubby was the LAST thing on my mind!