I'm new to this, should I move a broody hen?

[AshleyBickle]

I have a broody hen.. She's currently going on 4 days setting on fake eggs. I'm getting fertile eggs for her tonight and plan to set them under her at dark.

Question is though- she's gone broody in a nest box. I attempted moving her at night into her own space. She was not happy. She didn't set on the fake eggs at all that night. Immediately got off. The next morning when I let the girls out for breakfast she ate and then went right back to her original nesting box. Even though it was empty. I put the eggs back under her in hopes I didn't break her broodyness. She's been sitting again for 3 days just fine.

Is it ok to leave her, then just move her once the chicks start to hatch? It's chicken coop cleaning day and I'm concerned I'm going to spook her every time I have to clean the coop. Or should I try moving her again before I set the fertile eggs under her?

This is my first broody so I'm lost as what to do.

 

[AshleyBickle]

I added a litter box to her best box in hopes it may be easier to move her when I decide to do so.

 

[Pork Pie]

As long as she will not be disturbed by other hens wanting to lay in the same box, then she will be fine where she is IMO. If you are getting fertile eggs from an external source to your own flock, its recommended not to set them under a hen for 24 hours (keep them in an egg box indoors).

CT

 

[AshleyBickle]

As long as she will not be disturbed by other hens wanting to lay in the same box, then she will be fine where she is IMO. If you are getting fertile eggs from an external source to your own flock, its recommended not to set them under a hen for 24 hours (keep them in an egg box indoors). 

CT

Ok thanks! She's in the popular egg laying box but the other girls have already chosen the next box over so she hasn't been bothered. I'll wait until tomorrow to set the eggs under her then. I'm getting them from someone local. I should move her when the eggs start to hatch though right?

 

[Pork Pie]

I'd suggest you mark your fertile eggs just to help you identify any others that may "creep" into her nest.

Yeah, you can move her once the hatch is complete (i usually wait 48 hours from first hatch and then call it a day for the remaining unhatched chicks).

CT