Help! Broody hen and hurricane!

[thelongacre]

Hey everyone,

Two weeks ago, we had a really bad storm and my favorite hen, Thelma, went missing. I searched and searched for her, but no luck. Figured a predator must have gotten her.

Today, my mother-in-law was walking her dog (she's here as an evacuee of Florence), and her dog went running into the bushes near our front porch and found Thelma! She, of course, is broody, and wasn't nearly as happy to see me as I was to see her. I've brought food and water to her.

We aren't going to get hit horribly with the hurricane, but there will definitely be very heavy rain and wind, and probably a decent amount of flooding. Her spot is secluded, but not safe from flooding. So - do I try to move her and her whole clutch or do I just try and break her from brooding? I could make her a safe little maternity ward area. But she's been sitting on the eggs for 13 days now, will she still sit on them if I move her? I'd rather have her alive and no chicks, so my instinct is to move her one way or another.

I've never had a broody hen before, so I want to make sure I do right by her!

Thanks everyone!
Paige

 

[Magicalflowers]

Hey everyone,

Two weeks ago, we had a really bad storm and my favorite hen, Thelma, went missing. I searched and searched for her, but no luck. Figured a predator must have gotten her.

Today, my mother-in-law was walking her dog (she's here as an evacuee of Florence), and her dog went running into the bushes near our front porch and found Thelma! She, of course, is broody, and wasn't nearly as happy to see me as I was to see her. I've brought food and water to her.

We aren't going to get hit horribly with the hurricane, but there will definitely be very heavy rain and wind, and probably a decent amount of flooding. Her spot is secluded, but not safe from flooding. So - do I try to move her and her whole clutch or do I just try and break her from brooding? I could make her a safe little maternity ward area. But she's been sitting on the eggs for 13 days now, will she still sit on them if I move her? I'd rather have her alive and no chicks, so my instinct is to move her one way or another.

I've never had a broody hen before, so I want to make sure I do right by her!

Thanks everyone!
Paige

Where exactly is her spot? Is it outside,inside, high ground, low ground? Also is the eggs she is sitting on fertilized? If so, if you wanna make sure the eggs are safe when moving them and if she is totally broody she will continue to sit on them and put up a fight when you move her.

 

[thelongacre]

Where exactly is her spot? Is it outside,inside, high ground, low ground? Also is the eggs she is sitting on fertilized? If so, if you wanna make sure the eggs are safe when moving them and if she is totally broody she will continue to sit on them and put up a fight when you move her.

She is outside, with her back to our porch and right by a few rose bushes. She doesn't have any covering over her. I could rig up a tarp to shield her, but I'm afraid there will still be moderate flooding.

I assume that they are fertilized due to our very amorous rooster. She was VERY upset when I found her - hissing, pecking, fluffed up feathers, the works.

 

[adrikeen]

If she is your favorite hen and a pet, I would move her to safety if you fear flooding. But that's just me....there will always be more eggs....only one Thelma.

 

[thelongacre]

If she is your favorite hen and a pet, I would move her to safety if you fear flooding. But that's just me....there will always be more eggs....only one Thelma.

Thanks, adrikeen That's how I feel, too.

 

[adrikeen]

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Set up a place. Dark and secluded, with a nest, food and water. Then, when it's completely dark, move her and the eggs.

 

[Magicalflowers]

Set up a place. Dark and secluded, with a nest, food and water. Then, when it's completely dark, move her and the eggs.

Yes, I agree. Move her when it’s dark and make sure she has lots of food and water. Best of luck to you! I’m hoping it doesn’t flood too bad!

 

[Shorty22366]

You can move her to a secure place. She will stay broody. I have moved my girls and their eggs and they just keep sitting.