Help!...is my chicken an idiot...or am I

[megans meadow]

ok...Heres the situation. Im new to chickens and dont really have a clue as to whats going on. I have 1 roo and 1 chicken...A few weeks ago, the chicken left the coop (free ranging) and decided to make a nest between a fence and my propane tank. 19 eggs. I havent wanted to move her until my coop and run were finished but tomorrow it will be. I thought about moving the eggs to the coop...but the wife is hollaring at me about not doing that...she insists that the chicken "knows" the eggs are fertile....I say the chicken is an idiot and she just happened to like that spot. She gets up once or twice a day but thats all...HELP...Can someone tell me whats going on or ideas about what i should do?

 

[KIDDSBANTAMS]

Maybe it is just me but I do not like my chickens nesting outside the coop it is not safe where we live and sooner or later a coon or possum will get the eggs fertile or not. I would move the eggs and if she is not sitting on them they will have to be trashed.

 

[Chickenfortress]

Well, you'll have a nice sized flock soon. She's broody, and the eggs are likely developing. If you try to move her, she'll not likely make the adjustment. She will go back to the spot the nest was in and leave the eggs to die in the new coop. You may as well leave her there til the eggs hatch and try to move her after. It might be time to decide what you will do with 6 new roosters. Also, buy a bag of chick starter after the eggs start to hatch, the chicks will need the extra protein.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

It does sound like your hen is broody and that you'll have chicks in less than 3 weeks. If she is uncovered, I would put something over the top of her. The last broody we had that built a nest outside of the coop here was given a short plastic table as a shelter. You can get them at the dollar store.

I would just let them be. Now, assuming that you have a rooster present, the eggs are most likely fertile. A hen does not "know" that eggs are fertile. There have been folks, like some here on BYC, that have had hens try to sit on unfertile eggs. Broodiness is just instinct, not a "knowing" that eggs are fertile.

 

[NanaLantana]

If the hen is setting on those eggs, then your wife is right! The hen does know that her eggs are fertile, of course they are, she has a husband! If you're over two weeks of her sitting there in that crazy spot, then you only have another week or so to go before she hatches some chix. Better get a place ready - and get the starter feed, and don't move her until she can bring her babies with her. (You COULD build some little protection around her where she is, if her location is not safe) Have fun learning about chickens, and 'chicken math!'

 

[megans meadow]

Quote:
ok...my next question ....Do I move the newly hatched chicks to a safe place inside (already have a spot/box ready for them) with...or without the hen?

 

[featherbaby]

Just a thought: Cut a generous sized 'door' opening in a large bottomless box and put the box over the top of her nest. This way she can see out and freely come and go, but the eggs are sheltered on the nest. It will also protect the mom and chicks when they hatch until you can move them safely.

 

[galanie]

Chickens will go broody and sit on golf balls. Mine went broody and there are no roosters within miles of here. The silly girl doesn't "know" the eggs are fertile, she just has hormones or something kicking in and wants a family. Make sure she's safe and sheltered.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Quote:
Thank you. Somebody agrees with me.

 

[galanie]

Greenfamilyfarms, you're welcome

Anyway, I just thought I'd throw this in: I picked up nest, eggs, chicken, and all and moved them all at once. Other than a growl from the hen sitting on sterile eggs, I had no problems. There were considerably fewer than 19 eggs, but she settled into her broody spot with no problems before I removed the ceramic egg and the sterile eggs and replaced them with a few from the incubator. Now, if you were to pick up her and the eggs and nest separately, then yeah I can see a problem.

But it sounds like you're leaving here there and sheltering her, and so long as she's safe, it's all good

Just my 2 cents.