Hen went broody in a bad place. Should I move her?

[klesoine]

I have a speckled sussex that's gone broody for the first time. Unfortunately, she has done it in my greenhouse which is very very hot and we will have record breaking heat this next week. Should I just move her out of there and back to the barn? If so, should I take the nest as well? Thanks for any advice.

 

[wowmanacat]

I really don't have a answer but if it was me I would move her. I had a friend that lost a chicken that had gone broody in a very hot place. just have a back up plan like a incubator so you don't lose the babies. I am sure someone that know much more about broody chickens will give you a good answer.

 

[bobbi-j]

I guess it depends on whether or not you want her to hatch the eggs out, if she's safer from preditors in the barn or the greenhouse, and if it would be a problem (other than the heat) for her to hatch out in the greenhouse. If you want her to hatch out, and you move her, move her at night. Put her and the eggs in something like a dishpan or box - something you can cover. Use as little light as possible. Make sure you move her to a place where you'll be able to keep her from leaving for a couple of days. I use an old stock tank with plywood over the end where the nest is, and trellis over the rest of it. (It's a long, skinny tank). If you decide to keep her where she is, you can help with heat management. Is it possible to put a fan where she is? You could put frozen water bottles next to her. Make sure she has access to fresh water. Do the windows open to let in a breeze? Would it be any cooler in the barn? You're the only one who knows your setup and what would be best.

 

[klesoine]

I really don't care about her hatching them out. I have PLENTY of chickens. I like her a lot and I was more concerned with her well being. There are no windows to open and I've tried to keep a shade cloth up but it keeps sliding down. It could be 108 degrees in there at noon tomorrow. I was wondering what it does to a hen when you interrupt their broody cycle. The barn is much cooler and in fact there are two hens that have gone broody in there.

 

[Judy]

She is more likely to accept the move if you move the nest as well, and do it at night. Most likely if you move her and she can, she will go back to the greenhouse, even if the nest and eggs are gone. And I agree, I'd move her.

The broody cycle is hormonal and very difficult to interrupt, but moving her and preventing access to her chosen spot may be an effective way to do it. I've never seen that it harms them for it to be interrupted -- if you can manage it. Really, the only surefire way to break a broody is let them hatch eggs or give them chicks.

Good luck!

 

[hcppam]

Quote:
Then move her...I sure would.

 

[bobbi-j]

Quote:
Then move her...I sure would.

Agreed - as long as you don't care, put her in the barn where it's cooler, and close up the greenhouse if you can to keep her out of there.

 

[Gullygarden]

Check out the henblog as she has some experience with broody hens that sounds like it might help. search her archives.