How to move a broody?

[BackyardinWales]

One of my matriarchs has gone broody and won't allow the other girls to lay (at least that's how it appears to me). I decided to let her keep a couple of eggs but wary of moving her as I tried to give her a baby previously but she left him. (He did later die, and I suspect she knew it would happen).

I've only given her two eggs (as I can't handle any more than that in my space).

I want to move her to a smaller coop, but she didn't like last time I tried that, and neither did the other girls. Any advice?

 

[DobieLover]

The time to move a broody hen is before you give her hatching eggs.
How large is your coop?
How many birds are in your flock?
How large is their run or do they free range?

 

[BackyardinWales]

I did try several times to move my lady, but each time she would return to her spot.

I only have 5 in total now, 2 'year old' hens and 3 six and a half month pullets. All of which 'were' laying.

They are in a 4 meter by 3 meter run, and the coop that they currently now share is 1 meter by 1 meter for roosting. Nope, not quite, but I'm working on a coop that is 1 meter by 2 meters with 4 wide nesting boxes.

It has been slow progress (I have limitations) but I'm working on the doors. Then the roof and painting.

To be fair, I just lost my last hatchling, and my family are concerned about my tenancy, so I wasn't planning on hatching any more and consider these two eggs as potential loss if the hatch is not successful since we lost our males about a month ago. Since she started keeping and hiding anyone's eggs, I figured allowing her to keep 2, and marking them so I know which ones they are, she is happier, and in turn the rest of the girls are too today. She won't come out to breakfast now, but she won't give up her grain at bedtime.

Since to my knowledge she isn't coming out for food, I thought about putting some food in near her during the day, and removing it when I put them all to bed at night.

I have only ever raised chicks I've incubated myself this is a whole new thing for me. Since we don't have a cockerel now, these two are my last potential chicks for the foreseeable future. It has been an interesting experience raising chickens over this last year, but hopefully for some time to come.

My coop in the making, and yes it's in my living room.

 

[BackyardinWales]

Can I ask ... is it normal for a hen to leave her eggs for short periods of time, like to bathe or eat? 21 days without food or water would seem silly, but we have to be vigilant when using the incubator.

 

[Tstraub]

Can I ask ... is it normal for a hen to leave her eggs for short periods of time, like to bathe or eat? 21 days without food or water would seem silly, but we have to be vigilant when using the incubator.

Yes the broody will get up to eat, drink, take a massive broody dump, and dust bath a couple times a day. Sometimes for just a few minutes sometimes for nearly an hour. Most likely she will do it while you are not around. She recognizes you as the one who comes around and takes the eggs away so she protects the eggs whenever she hears or sees you coming.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Can I ask ... is it normal for a hen to leave her eggs for short periods of time, like to bathe or eat? 21 days without food or water would seem silly, but we have to be vigilant when using the incubator.

yes