My broody chicken is nesting in a random corner of my yard

[nmoo]

So, I have two hens. Initially, I was keeping them in a xlarge metal dog crate at night. Over a few months they stopped wanting to go in there. I moved them into a xlarge plastic dog crate, which they used for a month and then decidedly stopped using it. They seemed to like to just huddle up and sleep near our back door where our dog sleeps. About a week ago one of them wasn't coming to greet me in the morning for breakfast time and I found her huddled up behind a garbage can in a remote corner of our yard. She is obviously broody and does not want to move. I'm pretty sure she's got some fertilized eggs under her and I'm not sure what to do. I'm concerned for a number of reasons:
I live in Florida and the nest has no protection from the rain.
Her nest is not protected from predators and the other hen
Once the chicks hatch they will be able to just wander off because they are not confined.
The list goes on.

These are my first chickens and I'm not sure what to do.
If I move the eggs, will she find them and what if she stops nesting
What do I do?
I'd appreciate any advice.

 

[Bunnylady]

It seems to me that there are two things you could do. You could try to fence off the area she's in, so that she has protection there - but that may be too much of a hassle for various reasons. Or, you could try moving her. I have moved hens and their eggs several times. I made a nice nest in a cage, and put the eggs and the hen in there. Typically, within the hour, the hen settles down and goes right on brooding. Be warned, though, that the hen may be so upset by the move that she just quits brooding right then. I have had that happen a couple of times - apparently, it depends on the temperament of the hen.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Possums like to eat those eggs, so do coons...so do snakes, without the protection of your dog it's likely to happen. If you move her it's best to do at night. Toss a towel over her and rebuild the nest where you want it. You'll have to keep her locked in that spot for three to four days, then she should stay on the new nest. She might get confused and had back to the old spot, catch her and show hr the eggs and maybe she'll stick to it...good luck.

 

[nmoo]

Thanks y'all, I put her in the dog igloo and fenced it off. She kept trying to run off so , I put her in the dog house with food and closed it off. I'll take your advice and leave her in there for a few days. She's currently laying next to the eggs, but I'm hoping she'll lay on top of them again in the next couple days. I'll keep you updated. Thanks again

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

So, I have two hens. Initially, I was keeping them in a xlarge metal dog crate at night. Over a few months they stopped wanting to go in there. I moved them into a xlarge plastic dog crate, which they used for a month and then decidedly stopped using it. They seemed to like to just huddle up and sleep near our back door where our dog sleeps. About a week ago one of them wasn't coming to greet me in the morning for breakfast time and I found her huddled up behind a garbage can in a remote corner of our yard. She is obviously broody and does not want to move. I'm pretty sure she's got some fertilized eggs under her and I'm not sure what to do. I'm concerned for a number of reasons:
I live in Florida and the nest has no protection from the rain.
Her nest is not protected from predators and the other hen
Once the chicks hatch they will be able to just wander off because they are not confined.
The list goes on.

These are my first chickens and I'm not sure what to do.
If I move the eggs, will she find them and what if she stops nesting
What do I do?
I'd appreciate any advice.

Unless you have a roo or she has access to a roo the eggs won't be fertilized.