Nesting outside the chicken run

[Hagon Jones Homestead]

Hi all,

We have a hen nesting in a garden bed outside of the chicken run. We originally thought she had been eaten and just found her the other day.
My question is can we leave her to hatch the eggs 8 ish outside the coop ? Or should we lock her in the chicken house?

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
She's doing her thing, and is definitely at risk, especially at night.
Moving her will possibly save her life, although she may or may not continue to set on this clutch, so the embryos could all die. You do have a rooster, so they are fertile eggs?
Move her ar night, to a prepared nest in a big dog crate, or a fenced off area in the coop. Chick feed, waterer, bedding, all set up, and move her in the dark with a small flashlight, and as little fussing as possible. Keep her locked in until the babies all hatch, or she definitely gives up on the project.
You could try to fence her in place, if it would make her safer where she is now.
Mary

 

[Hagon Jones Homestead]

Welcome!
She's doing her thing, and is definitely at risk, especially at night.
Moving her will possibly save her life, although she may or may not continue to set on this clutch, so the embryos could all die. You do have a rooster, so they are fertile eggs?
Move her ar night, to a prepared nest in a big dog crate, or a fenced off area in the coop. Chick feed, waterer, bedding, all set up, and move her in the dark with a small flashlight, and as little fussing as possible. Keep her locked in until the babies all hatch, or she definitely gives up on the project.
You could try to fence her in place, if it would make her safer where she is now.
Mary

Thank you Mary. Great info.

 

[justin shrew]

The are times when you'd think that your hens are not laying. They can be sneaky sometimes more of guineafowls. Few days back i found one of the oldest hen broody, close to the woods. She is on 27 eggs it must have been a communal nest. So since we have no predators around. We let her brood. Most of our hens go broody outside and are rare killed. So if you live in a place of high predation. I'd take the hen to a safe place, because out there, the must be some thing looking for a meal.

 

[Hagon Jones Homestead]

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The are times when you'd think that your hens are not laying. They can be sneaky sometimes more of guineafowls. Few days back i found one of the oldest hen broody, close to the woods. She is on 27 eggs it must have been a communal nest. So since we have no predators around. We let her brood. Most of our hens go broody outside and are rare killed. So if you live in a place of high predation. I'd take the hen to a safe place, because out there, the must be some thing looking for a meal.

Thank you Justin