Moving a Broody?

[joesgirljeri]

I’ve read that birds imprint on their nests and they won’t recognize an area that has been moved (my neighbor kids moved a robins nest a little ways and the mama bird completely abandoned it, even with it still close.) We “broke” our broody by moving her, so the next time I kept her in the coop and moved everyone else to another area. I had to cover the screen where she could see the others, and then she settled down to business.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Moved her when it was almost pitch black, I saw her tucking the eggs under her and getting comfy. The prefab is really dark, I covered it in a big tarp but she wouldn’t stay. When I went out this morning she was pacing and clucking. I let her out and she went straight to the nest box in the main coop. My stepdad said we’ll just have to make a door for the big nest box and let her out 2/3 times a day. And then I’ll move her to the prefab when the chicks hatch.

Sorry it didn't work. I have NEVER has success in moving a broody hen with eggs! I just mark the broody's eggs and leave everyone to do their thing. I take the other eggs away daily. I count the days and when hatching is expected I pay particular attention. I let the eggs hatch and move Broody and chicks after the first day! Good luck!

 

[featheredplanets]

Sorry it didn't work. I have NEVER has success in moving a broody hen with eggs! I just mark the broody's eggs and leave everyone to do their thing. I take the other eggs away daily. I count the days and when hatching is expected I pay particular attention. I let the eggs hatch and move Broody and chicks after the first day! Good luck!

Thank you. I would do that but I worry they won’t get enough heat and they could get broken with the others laying on top of her.

 

[aart]

I move a broody and let her get settled in(may take 24-48 hours)
before giving her fresh fertile eggs.