Is it normal for broody hens to switch nests?

[Toothpick]

I’ve got two hens that are sitting. Roughly 6-8 eggs under each. Occasionally they will get off their nests. When they come back they sometimes sit in a different box. With maybe just 1 or two eggs in it that I haven’t collected yet. I’ve been putting them back on the correct nests but they don’t seem to “get it”.

Should I just leave them and let them figure it out on their own?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's pretty normal behavior when hens are setting in the general population and in the nestboxes. You need to check daily, usually twice a day to see they are on the correct nest. It isn't really about hatching its about setting for many hens, so any old eggs will do.

You should also clearly mark any set eggs as other hens will add to the nest making a staggered hatch which always ends badly. You want all eggs to hatch the same day or the next.

 

[sourland]

 

[RWise]

I provide nests in private areas with food water dust area, all she needs. Just leave the door open and the girls start using the nest (I do put a fake egg (golf ball) in the nest to encourage the use of this nest). Add a fake egg or 2 each day as I gather eggs. When/IF a girl sets on the fakes, at night I give her real eggs and close the door. (ya you may get pecked)
No nest hopping, no fighting over the nest, less broken eggs, better hatch. When they hatch and she is ready to come off the nest, I open the door (2-3 days old) so she can join the flock. She may come back to this nest at night or she may take them to the coop, she has them on the roost at about 4 weeks old.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’ve got two hens that are sitting. Roughly 6-8 eggs under each. Occasionally they will get off their nests. When they come back they sometimes sit in a different box. With maybe just 1 or two eggs in it that I haven’t collected yet. I’ve been putting them back on the correct nests but they don’t seem to “get it”.

Should I just leave them and let them figure it out on their own?

I don't consider that normal because most of mine don't do it. But it is not unusual. It's possible a hen just gets confused and goes to the wrong nest. Most of the time when it happens to me another hen is on her nest laying an egg when she returns from her daily constitutional so she goes to another nest and never relocates to her real nest. In that situation most of my broodies hop back into the right nest, whether another hen is there laying an egg or not, but occasionally one doesn't. I'm trying to think back over the years how often that happened, probably one in nine or ten broodies. Not unusual but not normal.

You have a couple of choices. You can keep doing what you are doing, just put them on the right nest when you find them like that. That's what I do and I still normally get good hatches. I remember one hen that did that. Her eggs were cold to the touch when I found her and put her back on her eggs. She hatched 11 out of 11 eggs and raised those chicks with the flock. I've had other hens do that and have good hatches but that 11 out of 11 was memorable.

The other option is to isolate a broody in a pen were she cannot get out and no other hen can get in. That might be a separate pen where you have to move her and her eggs or maybe you can build a pen around her current nest. She will need enough room for food and water but not a lot more. A broody knows not to poop in her nest but she does not know to not poop in her food or water. You may be cleaning those out a bunch so give yourself good access. If you move her she may not accept the move and break from being broody but most people move them successfully.

It's your choice. Good luck!

 

[Toothpick]

Thanks everyone. I do have another smaller TSC coop I can use. But I wouldn’t want both broody hens in there.

I never thought to mark the eggs. I’m sure I’ll have some that don’t hatch. I’ll have to pitch those.

Do hens usually stay broody? After she raises these chicks will she start sitting again?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Do hens usually stay broody? After she raises these chicks will she start sitting again?

No, once she weans her chicks she will normally take a while to rebuilt her bodies reserves, then resume laying.

 

[RWise]

I have an 8 YO that has only went broody 1 time, to bad she is a good mother! I would give her eggs.

 

[aart]

I never thought to mark the eggs. I’m sure I’ll have some that don’t hatch. I’ll have to pitch those.

Do hens usually stay broody? After she raises these chicks will she start sitting again?

You could still mark them to ID new eggs laid in the future.
Maybe even, after candling, remove any that are 'behind'.
How long have they been setting?

Some broodies will go again after weaning the chicks, then laying another 'clutch'.
Have one like that now, she hatched in March, weaned at 4 weeks, laid for a week or so, then went broody again. I broke her, she laid for another week or so and went broody again. I broke her again and it didn't quite take, had to crate break for longer, now she's laying again.....but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if she went again.

 

[Toothpick]

I marked them all. I tossed the ones they were not sitting on. Sure makes collecting new eggs easier.

I’ve also noticed one or both are kicking eggs out of the nest. I guess they are bad eggs?