Moving a hen and eggs

[d'jango]

My hen has been on the eggs for 11 days. My daughter has a day care and would like to have the hen there (30 min away) so the children can see them hatch.is this a bad idea to move them.
Thanks any info would be appriciated.

 

[sylviethecochin]

When I move hens, (which is often because they all want to seem to hatch eggs in the hay baler) I put them in a large-ish cardboard box, and leave them in the dark with only enough light to eat and drink. I leave the hen there for a few days before opening the box--I still do not take the nest out of the box, but leave it there until the chicks have hatched. I have never had a hen abandon the nest with this treatment.

That said, a lot of my hens are naturally broody breeds and experienced, by this point. Also, I leave them in the dark and quiet. A daycare does not seem the best place to put a broody hen--at this time of year, I assume they're younger than pre-school age and probably include a few babies. It would be loud. Children would want to handle her. She would be in completely unfamiliar territory, and she would probably be stressed and upset. Her abandoning the nest would be very likely.

It might work. How experienced is your hen? What breed is your hen? A bantam cochin or a silkie is likelier to remain on the nest than, say, an ISA Brown might be.

I personally would wait until the chicks hatch and then bring them in for a "show-and-tell."

 

[d'jango]

Thank you. I think I will leave her be and let the kids come here and with any luck they will come on the right day to see them hatch

 

[sylviethecochin]

You're welcome.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Agree with sylviethecochin ... Perhaps a better idea is set up an incubator for the kids with fertile eggs at the daycare. You could stop by to check on the eggs & give a presentation on the care of chicks/chickens. If you allow the daycare to visit, be prepared for alot of noise & excitement and you know kids are going to want to carry & hold.

 

[d'jango]

Agree with sylviethecochin ... Perhaps a better idea is set up an incubator for the kids with fertile eggs at the daycare. You could stop by to check on the eggs & give a presentation on the care of chicks/chickens. If you allow the daycare to visit, be prepared for alot of noise & excitement and you know kids are going to want to carry & hold.

Thanks

 

[ChickNanny13]

 

[MillersFarm]

My hen has been on the eggs for 11 days. My daughter has a day care and would like to have the hen there (30 min away) so the children can see them hatch.is this a bad idea to move them.
Thanks any info would be appriciated.

Although @sylviethecochin has given great advice you do have to the conciser that this could possibly break your broody. Think, If this chicken is going to a daycare for children to look at i would imagine that this would be very stressful for her IF the ride was enough. And if you do decide to take her to the daycare and she doesn't break you should make it clear not to bug her much while brooding and that she needs to be in a big enough pen for her to eat drink and stretch. One more thing before moving her i'd get an incubator at the ready (If you have one) In case if she abandons the eggs.

 

[d'jango]

Thanks she is going to stay put