I think I screwed up!! Broody hen

littlejohnacres

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So I have my first broody, she is a leghorn and still pretty young, on day 13. She was sitting in a nest box that was a little high off the ground. I read it is best to move them to a safe and secure place. So I moved her Sunday night (10/15) I have her in a dog house with a dog kennel around for protection. When I went to let the others out yesterday morning I noticed that she moved to a different spot in the dog house and wasn't sitting on the eggs :barnie I quickly slid the eggs back under her. When I went out at lunch she was off the nest all together. So I panicked and grabbed the eggs and put them in the incubator. It got a little cold that night and during the day. I left 2 eggs that I had just gathered just to see what she would do, and when I got home from work she was sitting again! Now what do I do? Give the original eggs back to her? I did candle them last night and I think they are still good. Do I keep them in the incubator and when or if they hatch give them to her? Or do I just give her a few more eggs and wait to see if she hatches them?? This is stressful! LOL
 
If it were me, I would leave 2 eggs with her and continue with the others in the incubator. Once they hatch you can slide them under her at night. Leghorns can be a little flighty and difficult to move. I am concerned that she might still 'break'.
 
If it were me, I would leave 2 eggs with her and continue with the others in the incubator. Once they hatch you can slide them under her at night. Leghorns can be a little flighty and difficult to move. I am concerned that she might still 'break'.

Thanks so much!
 
If she does 'break' allow her back to her old nest site. Allow her to continue setting there and foster the chicks when they hatch. Good luck.
 

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