Moving a brooding hen

[Compost King]

I hope it worked out, Moving a Broody that you haven't established a relationship with can easily go wrong.

 

[aart]

Hold on tight!
Best of cLuck!!

 

[Rosemary1]

well, the move went well (the tip on waiting till after dark is brilliant) but them she wouldn't go back to the eggs. I gave her some time to settle and she was still not back on the eggs so i boxed her in with outdoor cushions until she had no choice but to sit on the eggs. This morning i removed the cushions and she growled and bit me and so far is still on the eggs. A couple of the eggs appear to have strayed from underneath her though.

 

[50-45-1]

Tuck those stray eggs back under her if you can. They may still hatch next week.
Good job so far.
I cant wait so see how this turns out.......

 

[aart]

well, the move went well (the tip on waiting till after dark is brilliant) but them she wouldn't go back to the eggs. I gave her some time to settle and she was still not back on the eggs so i boxed her in with outdoor cushions until she had no choice but to sit on the eggs. This morning i removed the cushions and she growled and bit me and so far is still on the eggs. A couple of the eggs appear to have strayed from underneath her though.

Awesome, great job......glad she didn't totally freak out and break the eggs.

 

[Compost King]

I learned that broody hens sometimes remove eggs for good reason, sometimes they can sense the embryo is dead, sometimes they remove ones further along and let the others catch up before taking them back in. I stopped tucking eggs back under them and let them make the call on what to do with which egg. When I was forcing the issue with a hen once she ate 3 eggs I tucked under her then stop sitting on the rest.

 

[Izzychicky]

I wonder if the eggs are going to hatch, you know that they are fertilized, right?

 

[Rosemary1]

still sitting! still glaring at me!

 

[aart]

Is she coming off nest to partake of the feed and water you have provided...and leave a huge stink bomb in grateful repayment?

 

[Rosemary1]

she has food and water but eats very little, almost nothing