Putting Eggs Under a Broody

[The Sheriff]

Ok, my Icelandic hen Lukka has gone broody! She has been sitting more than two days straight. As far as I know she may have one of her own eggs and a few of everybody else's under her. I have four of Lukka's eggs in the incubator on Day 11. I would like to take the eggs out from under her and swap them out with the ones from the incubator. I also need to move her from the main coop into one of the smaller breeding coops with an enclosed run. I would like her to hatch and start her babies in there for safety. I didn't get the small coop ready for her today. It is a two story and I want to remove the ladder and contain her in the bottom section for the safety of the babies. I am guessing I should move her at night to lessen the chance of her rejecting the eggs. Correct? Then if she does reject them, hopefully I'll know early enough to get them back in the incubator.

Or should I move her with the ones she has under her now, keep the four in the incubator, and swap them out in a few days when I know without a doubt she is serious?

This is only my second experience with a broody. Any suggestions appreciated.

Mary

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Yes, I would move her at night, and I'd let her settle in before I swaped the eggs around.

Keep us updated! Hope everything goes well! Best of luck to U!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i agree. Sometimes broodies freak and refuse to set when they get moved. So you want to get her into her new digs and make sure she will continue to sit on the eggs.

So, since you posted yesterday, did you get her moved last night?

 

[The Sheriff]

No, we didn't move her last night because I didn't have the small coop ready. I am going to do that today and move her tonight. She got off the nest this morning to eat and one of the roo chased her back into the coop. Men!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Well! The nerve!

Sounds like she will be happier in her own little set-up, where she is free to get up and have a bite to eat.