My hens are broody, but they won't let me touch the eggs.

[Cait Jones]

Hi guys! I have nine chickens and two of my silkie hens are broody and nesting right beside each other on the floor of the chicken house. The eggs are fertile and I think she has been siting on them for about 2 weeks. I know I need to move them but I am scared that they will leave their nests because they have been siting on the nest for so long. Also when I go to pick the eggs up to candle them, they just peck me a bunch. I probably should give up but I thought it would be fun to have chicks because the house fits 12. Any suggestions? Thank you!

 

[Pretty Birds]

If you need to move them, do it at night. As for the pecking, you could wear thick gloves.

 

[Cait Jones]

Okay thank you! I will try to use thicker gloves and see if I can get help moving them.

 

[Cait Jones]

Also has any one ever had a rabbit around chicks? My rabbit lives with my flock right now but I don't know what she'll do around the chicks. Suggestions?

 

[featheredplanets]

Also has any one ever had a rabbit around chicks? My rabbit lives with my flock right now but I don't know what she'll do around the chicks. Suggestions?

I would not trust a rabbit around chicks. I would be very worried she’d nip or kick the chicks, which will very easily kill them.

 

[Cait Jones]

Thank you! I think I am going to wait and move the hen and chicks into another house as soon as they hatch. Does that sound okay?

 

[Pretty Birds]

I think I am going to wait and move the hen and chicks into another house as soon as they hatch. Does that sound okay?

That should be fine. I moved my broody after she hatched her chicks.

 

[50-45-1]

i never bother with candling.
A hen does not need it. Hens have been doing it for centuries and her hatch outcome will only go down with the added risk of,
1 breaking an egg in the process.
2 bothering and upsetting your broody and risking breaking her brood.
3 Never ever have i had a bad egg burst in a incubator or under a broody. I think it must take more than 28-30days.
Agree to wait untill chicks are hatched before moving them in this instance

 

[Cait Jones]

Okay thank you! That's very helpful

 

[aart]

Not sure I'd move her now or at all...but might want to confine the rabbit.
But it is good to be able to handle a broody and check under her daily for new eggs laid by other birds if she's not sequestered from the flock.
They'll peck at first but soon get used to it if you are calm and confident.
If they are setting on the floor with the rest of the flock, leave them there to integrate the chicks.
Lots of different ways to manage a broody.