Moved eggs to clean nest, broody girl nested over them and now won't move!

[jlw848]

One of our broody hen's eggs cracked and was rotten, and the goo seeped into the nesting box. Today when she was up drinking water, I carefully moved the eggs to the side and took the nesting box out to clean it. When I did, she gathered up the remaining eggs and nested over them in the middle of her coop and won't move! She is only a few days from hatching - is this ok?? The smell from the rotten egg was terrible, I just wanted to get the saturated hay out of there. She's in a crate away from the flock just nesting in the middle...and a bit furious at me. Should I put the nesting box back in or just let her be?

 

[donrae]

If the place she's at is safe to hatch chicks, I'd leave her be. My hens have brooder on the floor of the coop several times.

 

[nj2wv]

welcome to BYC !!