Help! Rogue broody.

[Briargrove]

So today while I was hanging out wash I heard a chicken growling at me from under a large lilac bush. She is still out there now, at the end of the day. My husband lifted her up earlier and saw about a dozen eggs under her. I have no idea how long she may have been sitting on the eggs. I'm guessing not too long, today may be the first day, but I don't go to that part of the yard everyday. Its the first time I've hung wash in a while.

What should we do? Should we get her a crate and move her tonight? Build something around her where she is? She is pretty far from the coop, way too long to go back for food and water, I think. I'm thinking of moving her onto the porch or in the barn or something for more protection. The coop is kind of crowded. I saw the thread on the broody hens, but 900+ pages is a lot to sort through. Thanks for any help!

Jennifer

 

[doop]

I would move her before a predator of some sort finds her. Night time is the best time to do it. You could lock her in her new nest for a couple days til she accepts her new spot just take her out for a few minutes each day to eat, drink, and do her business. Or put a cage over her at night for protection.

 

[Briargrove]

Thanks for the reply. I wanted to move her but was afraid she would abandon the eggs if we did.

We went out after dark and pulled her off the eggs. She was sitting on 16! I'm tempted to take some back for the incubator. She was mad at us but is safe now in a pet carrier inside the barn. I tried to candle a few, they all looked clear, with pretty small airspaces. I will try again in a week I guess.