How to encourage seemingly willing hen?

[Tre3hugger]

So one of my hens seems to want to be a mom. She can't get it quite right tho. She will sit on eggs mosst of the day but get off at the slightest disturbance. Today she did good all day, come out to eat right before bed, then lost her best box to the rooster, who sat next to the eggs. I would love for her to hatch some. Should I separate her? Give her more time to figure it out? Make her an isolation pen inside the common run? Any opinions appreciAted!

 

[Rooster G]

I wait until mine are serious, and then separate them.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Thanks for the input

 

[Peppercorngal]

I am a believer in letting nature take it's course. When she is truly broody, you will know. She will raise her feathers and hiss when you come near the nest where she is sitting. Some hens get a little confused on their first time broody and when leaving the nest to eat and poop, if there are eggs in different nest, the hen may return to it. Make sure you collect all other eggs many times a day to avoid this. I do not separate or move my broody. I've never had success doing that. And the re-integration later can be a problem. I leave her where she is. Once in awhile when she takes a break another hen will lay an egg in her nest, so I write the date on the broody's eggs and check the nest for other eggs and take them daily. There is nothing more miraculous than seeing eggs hatch naturally and watching mama hen raise her chicks! Good luck!

 

[Tre3hugger]

@Peppercorngal thanks for the advice. It's early in the srason, I'm thinking she will figure it out!