My Broody Hen and Musical Nesting Boxes

[stubbornhill]

I have a hen that has been broody for a couple of weeks. I wasn't going to let her hatch eggs, because frankly I don't know that our young roo is capable of getting the job done.

Anyhoo...every night for 2 weeks I was taking the eggs away from her. She is persistant, so I figured, OK, you can have 3 eggs to sit on. I marked them and put them back under her. The only problem is, every night when I get home, she is off the eggs and in another nesting box. I move the eggs back under her, next day, different box.

How can I stop this cycle of madness?

I don't have a separate brooding facility or option for that at this point.

Any suggestions?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[HEChicken]

Segregating her really is a good idea but you don't need a whole separate coop for that. If you can even just take some chicken wire and cordon off a corner of the coop, that would suffice. Make it large enough for a nest at one end, and a small feeder and waterer at the other, so that she has to get up and walk to get a drink. That will encourage her to get off the nest daily and poop outside of it.

 

[stubbornhill]

thanks a bunch! I'll see what bwe end up doin. I would be just as happy if she would become un broody.