Is Hen Incubating Eggs?

[GooseMoyo]

My hens have a coop/run but also free range the surrounding area most of the day. I don't particularly pay attention to what they're doing unless egg production drops or something out of the ordinary occurs. Recently we've had a reduction in eggs laid in the coop but not zero so I just assumed with the hot weather (90+ degrees in S.TX) the hens were adjusting a bit... since there were still some, I didn't think they were laying outside.
Fast forward to this morning, I found ~a dozen eggs outside the run inside an upside down plastic bin thing. I have no idea how old the oldest egg is but one of my hens ran out of it this morning so I know she was in there. They don't typically lay in the morning time but we had a massive storm yesterday/last night so maybe that messed up her timing.

If she is incubating the eggs, I want her do that but I have a few concerns/questions:
1. Aside from constant/vigorous monitoring, how can I confirm she is incubating the eggs? I can't confirm but it looks like there may be eggs from multiple hens in the pile.
2. The location isn't great for chicks to hatch since it's outside of the fenced run (I've got a puppy that mostly leaves the hens alone but I'm certain would get the chicks). Can I move the plastic bin and the eggs to inside the run or would disturbing it cause the hen to abandon them?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Best to candle them to see if any are developed.

 

[GooseMoyo]

So she's definitely sitting on the eggs. All my other hens laid eggs yesterday in the coop so I don't think there'll be anymore.
Tried candling last night but couldn't see much, I'm hoping its just very early... maybe by the weekend I can see something. My understanding is that it is unlikely all the eggs will be viable?

My big concern is getting the hen and eggs moved to a more secure location. Assuming is the first few days of incubation, when should I move her? Recommended strategies?
thanks!

 

[Ridgerunner]

1. Aside from constant/vigorous monitoring, how can I confirm she is incubating the eggs? I can't confirm but it looks like there may be eggs from multiple hens in the pile.

Where does she spend the night? There are many different signs that a hen might be broody but the only one that counts with me is if she spends at least two consecutive nights on the nest instead of sleeping on the roost. It cannot be just one night, it has to be two consecutive nights. You do not need to watch her every minute, just check after it is dark and see where she is.

From what you said I sincerely doubt she is incubating those eggs but where does she spend her nights?

2. The location isn't great for chicks to hatch since it's outside of the fenced run (I've got a puppy that mostly leaves the hens alone but I'm certain would get the chicks). Can I move the plastic bin and the eggs to inside the run or would disturbing it cause the hen to abandon them?

Good question and yes, being outside your predator protection is a problem. Many hens hide a nest and hatch chicks without any predator protection but you never know if a snake, fox, coyote, bobcat, dog, raccoon, or something else will find that nest and eat the hen or the eggs.

Hens imprint on the nest location more than the eggs. Moving the eggs somewhere else is not likely to get her to move with them.

So what can you do if she is really broody?

Leave her alone and take your chances. I'd mark the eggs so you know which ones belong in case other hens are still laying there.

Can you build predator protection around her where she is to keep snakes, foxes, coyotes, etc away from her? Lock her in there and do not let her out until the chicks hatch. Put food and water in there.

Build a cage that keeps her in someplace that is predator safe. Could be the coop or run. Give her a nest, food, and water. It does not need to be very big. After dark move her and the eggs into that cage and lock her in. Leave her locked in there until the eggs hatch. She might accept the move or she might break from being broody. That's the risk you take by trying to move her to a safer place. Lots of people are successful moving a broody like this but it does not always work.

Again, you haven't said anything that makes me think she is actually broody. Hens hiding a nest like this is really common. But you are looking at her, I'm not.

Good luck!

 

[GooseMoyo]

From what you said I sincerely doubt she is incubating those eggs but where does she spend her nights?

Thanks! I think it's been two nights but can only confirm last night. They've got an automatic door to the run so unless I hear a chicken screaming they're pretty much left alone. She was out for a bit this morning, but has been sitting on the eggs all day.

Hens imprint on the nest location more than the eggs. Moving the eggs somewhere else is not likely to get her to move with them.

Good luck!

Thanks again! That is good to know. I'll rig up something to keep her safe where she's at through to the weekend to confirm she's actually broody and the eggs are "growing". Then get her moved more securely into a locked place in the run.

I've never had a hen hatch eggs before so this will be a great experiment... fingers crossed!

 

[Ridgerunner]

You might want to mark those eggs.

 

[Mrs. K]

The longest 21 days ever.

I too, thought it was a hidden nest. Mine will lay dutifully in their nests like pros, and then one day, hide a nest. For me, a sudden drop in production is always a hidden nest.

Thing is, the other hens will want to lay their too, and will go back and add eggs if they get the chance. Now this will NOT lead to more chicks, instead it leads to a wreck. Chickens stir their eggs, if you get too many eggs, if there are a lot of eggs, the ones on the outside edge die, and then get stirred again. And if they get through that, well the eggs added later will get abandoned when the chicks begin to hatch. So marking the eggs is important.

I don't check it every day, just 2-3 times a week. I don't like to disturb them too much. The one I have now, I have caught 3 times off the nest, and she has her perfect 6.

Depending on the size of your hen, reducing the clutch to 6-8 might help getting a higher percentage of eggs to hatch.

Remember "don't count your chicks until they hatch," is a very true adage, not all of them will hatch.

Good luck, IMO, nothing is more fun than a hen and chicks. If you dog is what you are worried about, would it be easier to manage the dog, until she gets them hatched? Once they are hatched, she will probably take them to the coop. Or if not, you can put them in the coop and she will follow the loud peeping chicks.

Mrs K