Mean Broody

[kgilmore1]

My buff Orpington hen went broody yesterday went broody today and I'm okay with that but she has 13+ eggs and is stealing more. I thought something was stealing eggs the past few days but really my BO was hiding them somewhere and now she's made a nest and gone broody. She got off for a second to eat so I counted and marked 13 eggs already! I know for sure that 3-4 more eggs were laid today but she apparently moved them to her nest. She's nesting in an awkward place on the ground instead of a box. The problem is that I can't get my hands under her to get the new eggs without leaving bloody. Do I just let her keep taking eggs since I can't get them from her? How many can she even sit on? I would think 13 would be plenty for her. I don't want to move her because she's already bottom hen and I would hate to have to reintroduce and make things worse for her.

 

[HeyImAChickenThatsWhite]

My buff Orpington hen went broody yesterday went broody today and I'm okay with that but she has 13+ eggs and is stealing more. I thought something was stealing eggs the past few days but really my BO was hiding them somewhere and now she's made a nest and gone broody. She got off for a second to eat so I counted and marked 13 eggs already! I know for sure that 3-4 more eggs were laid today but she apparently moved them to her nest. She's nesting in an awkward place on the ground instead of a box. The problem is that I can't get my hands under her to get the new eggs without leaving bloody. Do I just let her keep taking eggs since I can't get them from her? How many can she even sit on? I would think 13 would be plenty for her. I don't want to move her because she's already bottom hen and I would hate to have to reintroduce and make things worse for her.

I would put gloves on. Broody hens are very protective over there eggs. After I got gloves I would get the eggs. That’s my opinion. I never had a broody hen. My hens do trick me though. I also read stuff that you should separate the broody from the flock, because the hens would pick on the chicks. Hey! I never had a broody so. I just read a lot about chickens. Also, Congratulations for a broody hen!!

 

[bobbi-j]

Wear gloves, or get one of these:
https://www.chewy.com/chuckit-class...m_campaign=hg&utm_content=Chuckit!&utm_term=&

That's what my friend uses to reach under her broodies. I usually just reach in with my hands, but this is helpful in those awkward places.

 

[cottontail farm]

Use a glove and do it at night- she may not even notice if she's half asleep. The chickens have trained me never try to mess with a broody hen during the day. Lol.

 

[cottontail farm]

Wear gloves, or get one of these:
https://www.chewy.com/chuckit-classic-launcher-color/dp/38347?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Chuckit!&utm_term=&

That's what my friend uses to reach under her broodies. I usually just reach in with my hands, but this is helpful in those awkward places.

OH! I have one of these!! It's awesome for getting duck eggs from the back corner of their house. No more crawling in after them!

 

[sawilliams]

Gloves gloves gloves.... sorry I know its been said i've had mean broodies to and you just have to wear gloves and sometimes a thick jacket. Sometime you can just reach under and push them up but it's still a fight either way. I have 1 right now that almost drew blood the first night when i found her broody.

As for stealing eggs, yes they will collect anything laid close to them. And you need too collect those eggs. 1 if she gets to many she won't beable to keep then all warm and some or all could die becuase of improper temps. 2 you will have to many eggs at to many different stages of development and once she is satisfied with her hatch the rest will be abandoned to die.

As for moving her, if she is safe you could leave her but if she is not you need to move her. Get help, use gloves, work at night grab her and have the other person collect her eggs. Work quickly but carefully. Place all the eggs in the new nest then set her on top. You will need to keep watch on her for a few days that she returns from her daily break to the new nest or confine her with food and water so she can't go back to the old nest. Also destroy the old nest to discourage others laying there.

 

[sawilliams]

As for reintroducing her can you seperate a pen area in the coop or run for her? That would be the best option. Then the others can't get to her or lat eggs near her but they are still near her and don't forget about her so no reintroduction needed. Add for the chicks a good broody will keep the other hens away from her babies once they hatch. But you should still keep an eye on things and seperate her and her chicks of the others vecome violent.

Also I forgot to piont out that a shared nest can cuase eggs to get broken because of all the hen feet movement.

 

[kgilmore1]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I managed to get one egg from her this morning but I was scared to lift her because she was hoarding eggs under her wings and I didn't want to crack any. She also has her legs so stiff it's pulling up eggs and bedding material when I try to move her. She's really serious about it. I guess I'll take out a large plastic dog kennel for her to put in the coop.

 

[chickens really]

Hello...I have a Brooder in my Garage set up for Hens. I build the nest and set up feed and water. I put the Hen into a crate and then move the eggs to my nest I built. I release the Hen into my Brooder and walk away till she settles onto the nest..She hatches her Chicks and I reintroduce her and Chicks after 5 days of hatching..

 

[bobbi-j]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I managed to get one egg from her this morning but I was scared to lift her because she was hoarding eggs under her wings and I didn't want to crack any. She also has her legs so stiff it's pulling up eggs and bedding material when I try to move her. She's really serious about it. I guess I'll take out a large plastic dog kennel for her to put in the coop.

You may just have to reach under her then, and feel for eggs. If she’s in the large kennel, will the door be open so she can get off the nest to eat, drink and poop?