moving nest with broody chicken

[knaup109]

I have a Delawares, she has been sitting on the eggs for approx. 7 days now. I am thinking moving the nest to a cooler place. Currently the coop is directly under the sun and it is getting hot in Texas. If I to move the nest with the eggs, will she continue to lay there?
thanks

 

[bakerjw]

Move her after dark when she is asleep. Are you moving the entire nest like a nest box? Some people use a dog carrier to keep them contained to make sure that they go back on the eggs.

 

[Lollipop]

It`s always a crap shoot to move a broody hen. She`s only got 14 day to go, so if you can safely leave her there, that`s the best thing. If you have to move her, do it at night, in as much darkness as you can funtion in. Move the eggs first, unless you have a movable nest. I personally us movable nests for all my birds. When I move them(at night), I hold a piece of cardboard over the opening to keep the hen in total drkness. Then she wakes up the next morning and all is well. Good luck to you, but I would leave her in her present location, if possible..........Pop

 

[Chicklette 1]

Quote:
I have a silkie sitting on 3 of her eggs that I let her have. I have a total of 9 hens and one silkie rooster that I bought as a pair. I do not think he has bred any of the other hens. I know he has bred her and he watches over her like a "excuse the expression Hawk" Some of my other hens seem to have gone broody and there are at least 2 or3 others that want to sit on her eggs. When she goes out for her little airing, the others sit on her eggs. Usually, my little EE jumps into the nest with her. I also have a frizzle bantam Cochin that sits all day and has been nest sitting for about a month or 6 weeks now. They sit on anything they can. I always have to reach under them to get any eggs that are not the original 3 that I let the silkie have. Since there is so much interest in her eggs and the "sharing of sitting", should I move her and the eggs or should I let her be until they hatch and when should she be moved, if at all. Obviously, I am new to all of this but I do have the proper places to separate them if that is best. They are using 3 nest boxes to sit or pretend sit in. I am very confused about this whole thing. Help!!

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
I have a silkie sitting on 3 of her eggs that I let her have. I have a total of 9 hens and one silkie rooster that I bought as a pair. I do not think he has bred any of the other hens. I know he has bred her and he watches over her like a "excuse the expression Hawk" Some of my other hens seem to have gone broody and there are at least 2 or3 others that want to sit on her eggs. When she goes out for her little airing, the others sit on her eggs. Usually, my little EE jumps into the nest with her. I also have a frizzle bantam Cochin that sits all day and has been nest sitting for about a month or 6 weeks now. They sit on anything they can. I always have to reach under them to get any eggs that are not the original 3 that I let the silkie have. Since there is so much interest in her eggs and the "sharing of sitting", should I move her and the eggs or should I let her be until they hatch and when should she be moved, if at all. Obviously, I am new to all of this but I do have the proper places to separate them if that is best. They are using 3 nest boxes to sit or pretend sit in. I am very confused about this whole thing. Help!!

Chicklette, you will find that the nest sitters aren`t being nice, they are laying those eggs that aen`t supposed to be there, or else they have aspirations of stealing the nest. As far as Silkies go, they lock on a nest much tighter than Delawares, or most any other breed for that matter. I would move her, but as mentioned above, do it at night, with only enough light to see what you are doing.. Here`s a great article on broodies......Pop

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

 

[Chicklette 1]

Quote:
I have a silkie sitting on 3 of her eggs that I let her have. I have a total of 9 hens and one silkie rooster that I bought as a pair. I do not think he has bred any of the other hens. I know he has bred her and he watches over her like a "excuse the expression Hawk" Some of my other hens seem to have gone broody and there are at least 2 or3 others that want to sit on her eggs. When she goes out for her little airing, the others sit on her eggs. Usually, my little EE jumps into the nest with her. I also have a frizzle bantam Cochin that sits all day and has been nest sitting for about a month or 6 weeks now. They sit on anything they can. I always have to reach under them to get any eggs that are not the original 3 that I let the silkie have. Since there is so much interest in her eggs and the "sharing of sitting", should I move her and the eggs or should I let her be until they hatch and when should she be moved, if at all. Obviously, I am new to all of this but I do have the proper places to separate them if that is best. They are using 3 nest boxes to sit or pretend sit in. I am very confused about this whole thing. Help!!

Chicklette, you will find that the nest sitters aren`t being nice, they are laying those eggs that aen`t supposed to be there, or else they have aspirations of stealing the nest. As far as Silkies go, they lock on a nest much tighter than Delawares, or most any other breed for that matter. I would move her, but as mentioned above, do it at night, with only enough light to see what you are doing.. Here`s a great article on broodies......Pop

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

Thank you very much for the reference. I just finished reading all 5 pages and found it extremely informative and helpful. I will try to move her and the eggs at night as you suggested.