HELP!!! I moved mama and hatchlings to a lower spot and now, Mama won’t set on them anymore......

[Stoney Brooke Farms]

I have 7 eggs that my broody Hen has been setting on for 21 days. I didn’t realize I should have moved them earlier in the process, but thought today that the chicks would be injured if they fell from the nesting box where she has been brooding.
So I moved them.
And now Mama won’t get back on the eggs to keep them warm.
What should I do?????
Two have peep holes and the others don’t seem to pecked through yet.
I’m afraid they are going to get too cold........
Thanks for your help in advance!
Lori

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

Do you have an incubator you could set up real quick?

 

[50-45-1]

To late now but you should do your moves just after dark. That way the hen is likely to sit tight
Right now hour answer is an incubator.
Or after dark tonight you could try to set her on the eggs again, she may deem the area safe.
Is the new area dark and quiet?

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Can you put them back in the original spot and fortify it against falls? Just her and 1 egg at first. At this point I don't think it would hurt.

There are post on here about people hatching in some crazy ways the last 24 hours. Like shoeboxes on electric blankets and such. I'm sure you can rig something up in a pinch.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Are you physically putting her on the eggs? What does she do?

 

[HuffleClaw]

Is there any way possible you could set up an incubator this late-notice like @Wolfefarmyard suggests? Or maybe browse around and make a homemade one?

I’m wishing you the absolute best

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I think they will be OK as long as you keep them warm. When I was a kid I hatched 12 little quail eggs in an empty aquarium with just a can and a round plastic bowl sitting on top of it with some toilet paper underneath the eggs. The heat source was just the aquarium light and I just kept turning them half ways every few hours and every single one hatched! Hopefully the mama hen will sit on the eggs if you put everything back where it was, but if not you can only try your best.

 

[Stoney Brooke Farms]

Thanks for the help and encouragement! I have her in a dog crate in the garage. I have tried to put her on the eggs but she freaked out. She’s sitting close by but not on top of the eggs. I tried to put a heater on them but she freaked out about that too.
Maybe the best option is to keep them warm myself.....or maybe I should move them back......I just am not sure.
I wish I hadn’t moved them, but I thought I was doing the right thing at the time.....
Growing pains.......

 

[HuffleClaw]

Thanks for *most* of the replies! I have her in a dog crate in the garage. I have tried to put her on the eggs but she freaked out. She’s sitting close by but not on top of the eggs. I tried to put a heater on them but she freaked out about that too.
Maybe the best option is to keep them warm myself.....or maybe I should move them back......I just am not sure.
I wish I hadn’t moved them, but I thought I was doing the right thing at the time.....
Growing pains.......

Just saw you were in Alabama as well! Anway, it’s all about learning, and let me tell you, you’re doing your best and that’s all you can do Good luck, and I hope you get everything going good again!

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

Thanks for the help and encouragement! I have her in a dog crate in the garage. I have tried to put her on the eggs but she freaked out. She’s sitting close by but not on top of the eggs. I tried to put a heater on them but she freaked out about that too.
Maybe the best option is to keep them warm myself.....or maybe I should move them back......I just am not sure.
I wish I hadn’t moved them, but I thought I was doing the right thing at the time.....
Growing pains.......

If you don’t have an incubator you could try creating a makeshift one. There’s lots of ideas on how to easily make one with things you might have laying around on the internet!