laying outside coop

[junebuggh]

I have 4 hens and a rooster. They roam the yard 4-5 hours then get back in coop. One hen missing. I found her sitting on eggs in liriope in yard. Should I move hen and eggs to coop for safety? We have dogs, cats and lots o black snakes around. Or put in incubator? how do I make cheap,reliable incubator? Other chickens have ostracized this hen. Why? will they get over it?

 

[edbama2]

No incubator can do what a mother hen can do. I would not resort to an incubator unless she suddenly gives up on the eggs. If you move her, move her at night. A mother/broody hen will leave the flock and not socialize until she feels she has raised her babies. I have seen a mother hen take on a rooster to protect the little ones.