How to get a broody hen to use a broody box?

[hoosierhens101]

Finally we are going to let our continuing broody hen sit on eggs the next time she goes broody, which normally is every 6 weeks even all winter. Is there anyway ahead of time to encourage her to use the large pet crate we have for her? Should we put the crate in the coop ahead of time to see if she likes it? If she goes broody in her favorite nest box how and when do we move her? The boxes are too high for chicks. Anything else we should do ahead of time for the hen or the flock in preparation? Hopefully Sybill will finally be happy.

 

[HuskerHens18]

If you leave eggs in a specific nesting box and remove them from the others, it will encourage her to sit there. I've heard golf balls work too so you aren't wasting eggs waiting for her to be broody.
You can move her if she doesn't use the box you want, but she might go right back to the nesting box SHE wants. Broody hens are sassy and a pain to work with. IF she prefers a high nesting box, leave her there and keep track of the eggs by candling them weekly. When it gets close to lockdown (day 18) you can try locking her in the petcrate so you don't have to worry about chicks wandering around and getting killed by flock members.

I have issues with chicks and other flockmates. I HAVE to separate broody hen and chicks until they're fully feathered or the other hens will kill them. However I hear lots of people have perfect luck leaving chicks and broody with the flock without ever separating. It'll have to be your judgement on how everyone reacts to new chicks in the flock. Good luck!