Moving Broody Mum & Eggs

[shaunyb33]

Hi all,
Have been searching online but finding many conflicting suggestions for moving of hen & eggs.
I've just got 3 hens, they have all been living in one house together. It has a raised nesting/laying area where broody hen is now a week into sitting on fertile eggs.
I've been told to separate the mother and eggs into a separate pen/brooder pen but not sure when I should do this to cause minimum stress to her and ensure she resettles in new pen.
Sooner rather than later? Closer to hatch time?
First timer with fertile eggs and leaving it all up to nature but want to try do the right thing!!
Thanks in advance for your advice

 

[Sagey_7878]

Hi all,
Have been searching online but finding many conflicting suggestions for moving of hen & eggs.
I've just got 3 hens, they have all been living in one house together. It has a raised nesting/laying area where broody hen is now a week into sitting on fertile eggs.
I've been told to separate the mother and eggs into a separate pen/brooder pen but not sure when I should do this to cause minimum stress to her and ensure she resettles in new pen.
Sooner rather than later? Closer to hatch time?
First timer with fertile eggs and leaving it all up to nature but want to try do the right thing!!
Thanks in advance for your advice

Hi there! I always move my broody hens when hatching to a separate area to give some privacy and protection for the hen and the chicks. You can move the hen and the eggs now, and it will not cause a lot of stress. If she is a persistent broody, she will not leave, but maybe have a backup if she does decide to stop brooding once you move her. I move my broody hen and eggs on the first day of her sitting, and she always continues to sit. I say you should move her and that she’ll be okay! Good luck and keep us updated!

 

[shaunyb33]

Hi there! I always move my broody hens when hatching to a separate area to give some privacy and protection for the hen and the chicks. You can move the hen and the eggs now, and it will not cause a lot of stress. If she is a persistent broody, she will not leave, but maybe have a backup if she does decide to stop brooding once you move her. I move my broody hen and eggs on the first day of her sitting, and she always continues to sit. I say you should move her and that she’ll be okay! Good luck and keep us updated!

Thank you so much!! Yes I'll get her relocated this weekend - have messaged someone locally about a possible incubator hire as Plan B if she abandons them after the move but hopefully she'll just be happy and sit tight

 

[Sagey_7878]

Thank you so much!! Yes I'll get her relocated this weekend - have messaged someone locally about a possible incubator hire as Plan B if she abandons them after the move but hopefully she'll just be happy and sit tight

Awesome! Great that you have a plan B, but 95% she should be fine and you’ll have chicks in 2 weeks time!

 

[shaunyb33]

Awesome! Great that you have a plan B, but 95% she should be fine and you’ll have chicks in 2 weeks time!

I also read that I should do the relocate at night time? Do you think that's the best? Just conscious to be able to monitor if she's not staying put.

 

[Sagey_7878]

I also read that I should do the relocate at night time? Do you think that's the best? Just conscious to be able to monitor if she's not staying put.

You read right! Always relocate at night as the hens are more calm and they have less of an idea that they have been moved, increasing the chance of the hens staying on the nest. I always move at night and it always goes great. I usually put the hen in first and wait for her to settle then I put the eggs under her, you can do it the other way around but just be cautious that she doesn’t break any eggs.

 

[shaunyb33]

Ok great - do you just put the eggs into a carton when you move them? It's not far but there's 12 eggs so I want to be as careful as possible!! Thanks again!

 

[Sagey_7878]

Ok great - do you just put the eggs into a carton when you move them? It's not far but there's 12 eggs so I want to be as careful as possible!! Thanks again!

Yep, I usually hatch 12 eggs at a time and I put the eggs in a carton in case to I drop any or if something cracks ect.

 

[Dmontgomery]

We have had mixed luck moving broody hens. I guess it depends on the momma’s determination. We’ve found the most successful way is to let her sit wherever she wants until the first egg hatches, then relocate her and all the eggs CAREFULLY to a brooder box. We use removable “trays” inside our nesting boxes. We just pick up the whole tray, hay and all, and move it into the brooder. We’ve never had a hen abandon a newborn chick and they stay on the nest until the rest of the eggs hatch.
Definitely do it late at night.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I don't understand the concept of moving a broody before chicks are hatched unless there are problems. I never move mine before the chicks hatch and have never had problems. I do move hen and chicks to a nest on the floor with their own nearby food and water once hatched, though. Integration goes very smoothly because chicks are part of the flock from day one. The only problem I've had is the other hens poaching their food; I guess it tastes better, or something.