My hen is broody....

[MSmom601]

She has been sitting on an empty nest outside the coop for 4 days, I'm worried something will get her if I leave her there. Should I put some fertilized eggs in the coop and move her or just move the coop over her? Please help

 

[LRH97]

Yes I would move her. If you have other hens, I would move her away from them as well, so she can hatch eggs without the stress of the other hens maybe trying to pick on her. I've used an old dog crate for years with my broodys with success.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Yes I would move her. If you have other hens, I would move her away from them as well, so she can hatch eggs without the stress of the other hens maybe trying to pick on her. I've used an old dog crate for years with my broodys with success.

x2. A dog crate works wonders with a broody!

 

[MSmom601]

I only have the one chicken, I'm beginning to wonder if maybe that's why she went broody. My son left the nesting box open one day after cleaning and our rooster was killed. My brother has some fertilized eggs I'll go pick up some and see what happens.

 

[MyPetNugget]

We have a broody too! She is in our covered run ( completely predator proof), behind a straw bale. She has been broody for a week and a half.
I think you should go for the fertilized eggs and try to hatch chicks.

 

[LRH97]

I only have the one chicken, I'm beginning to wonder if maybe that's why she went broody. My son left the nesting box open one day after cleaning and our rooster was killed. My brother has some fertilized eggs I'll go pick up some and see what happens.

Then the coop should be fine. Just make sure she has a place close to the ground to nest, that way the chicks don't fall when they hatch. But yeah like MyPetNugget said, make use of her and go for babies! Best of luck to you!

 

[MSmom601]

Ok I put eggs in the nest and she immediately got up, will she go back and sit or should I put them in an incubator? I would like to go ahead and hatch them for my kids. If I put them in the incubator should they go in immediately or should I let the eggs sit and rotate a while first? Thanks Ya'll

 

[LRH97]

Ok I put eggs in the nest and she immediately got up, will she go back and sit or should I put them in an incubator? I would like to go ahead and hatch them for my kids. If I put them in the incubator should they go in immediately or should I let the eggs sit and rotate a while first? Thanks Ya'll

She should sit back down again. When I move my hens, they walk around for a while, and then go back.

 

[MyPetNugget]

Goldie never drinks ore eats anything, so I have to make her by moving her out of her nest and next to the waterer. Then she drinks and eats and dustbathes, all in about ten minutes, and goes back. I have heard that you have a better chance of hatching with a broody than an incubator so leave the eggs there.