Found my disappearing hen

[Skye727]

I thought my hen was eaten by something. She has been gone for a few weeks. She was back today eating. I followed her into the thick ivy where she has a little nest of at least 7 little blue eggs. What do I do? They aren't fertilized. Will she figure it out? I have some cochin eggs in my incubator that will hatch Monday. Should I give her those? If I do, where? In the house?

 

[lazy gardener]

Can you go out at night and move her and her clutch of eggs into a safe place? Perhaps put a dog crate in the coop or run, with hardware cloth to keep the babies safe from predators? Then you could let her set until Monday, and sneak the chicks under her Monday night. Sounds like the perfect opportunity to get those chicks fostered.

 

[Skye727]

Could I put the eggs under her now in the dog crate?

 

[number9]

It is according to how strong the brooding instinct is. So you can some you can't. I have not had much problems moving a nest if done quickly at night.

 

[MyPetNugget]

Maybe if you move the nest in the dog crate (with the eggs) , then put it back into the ivy she'll go in and then you can take her where you want to. (At night of course)

 

[Skye727]

I work at night so can't move her then. They aren't fertilized so I risked it and moved her all 11 (!) eggs. She is sitting on them now. I might give her a fertilized one tomorrow.

 

[lazy gardener]

Will you give her a fertilized one from your bator? That would be a great way to go... give her one or two from your bator to finish off, and if she does well with them, you could slip the rest of the chicks under her. Chickens can't count.

 

[Skye727]

I will tomorrow. Wanted to make she will do a good job. I have frizzle cochin bantams. She is a bantam Easter egger. Should be a good match.