Moved Broody Hen Now Not Sitting On Eggs

[-JJ-]

We left our broody hen on her eggs in the main coop with the other chickens for the first couple of weeks because everything was fine and we didn’t want to disrupt the process. We knew to move her the 3rd week to her own space to keep her and the chicks away from the flock so that nothing would happen to them. We moved them last night and my hen isn’t sitting on them. She is stressed and keeps trying to get to her old box thinking her eggs are still in there. We showed and sat her in the new box with the eggs but she got right back up. If she doesn’t take to the new spot and sit on the eggs today (it has only been 1 day) how long should I wait to intervene and put them in incubator? Are the eggs ok not being sat on in 24 hours?

 

[sourland]

Most hens imprint on the nest site even more than on the eggs. I would either put the eggs in an incubator or return them to her chosen nest site immediately to increase the possibility of a successful hatch. Good luck.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Where are you located?
If your ambient temperature isn't in the 90s F, then no, the eggs after 2 weeks of incubation are likely toast being exposed for 24 hours.

Also, it isn't essential to separate a hen and chicks from the flock. The mother will protect the chicks from the other birds.

 

[-JJ-]

We moved her around 7:30pm last night and when I went in at 7:00am this morning they were warm so either she or one of the other 2 hens had sat on them at one point so they were exposed for less than 12 hours, so hopefully that will matter. I’m in Tennessee. It’s been lower to mid 80’s. I put her back on the eggs and she is staying on them now. I pray it works out because they’re due to hatch this week.

 

[-JJ-]

Most hens imprint on the nest site even more than on the eggs. I would either put the eggs in an incubator or return them to her chosen nest site immediately to increase the possibility of a successful hatch. Good luck.

Hopefully it was only a minor setback instead of a ruined clutch. I put her back with the eggs and she decided to stay, so fingers crossed! It’s been in lower to mid 80’s in Tennessee and this morning the eggs were warm so one of the 3 hens sat on them at 1 point. They were exposed for less than 12 hours so I’m hoping that matters. They’re due to hatch any day so we’ll see.

 

[-JJ-]

I really only moved her because we have 2 rowdy roosters, not violent, but rambunctious and I just don’t trust she would be able to take on a rooster to protect them, especially a small game hen like her.