My concern is that when the Cochin hatches these eggs that sje is taking excellent care of, hatch in the nest box off the ground, will the chicks fallout and hurt themselves? Should I move her, before they hatch? If I move her will she not take back to her nest? How should I handle the situation, need advice? Another of my hens went broody for the second time his year, I tried to move her back to the coop but she was too flighty, now she has her nest on the ground close to my house where I can keep and eye on her and the nest to make sure they are okay, So I thought I would leave her, so she can take care of her own brood, any reason this would not be a good idea?
when it is nighttime, move the hen and her nest to a place on the coop floor and surround her with some wire, such as chicken wire and bend some to put over the top. It will keep her safe from the others and protect the chicks. We did this for our broody hen and her eggs and they all hatched. The others could see/hear them ane after a couple days you can prop the bottom up so the hen can bring her chicks outside with her. She will protect them from the others but still needs to be able to take them back inside her "private coop" at night. By leaving the other hen outside on the nest you are risking a predator getting her and her eggs. Also wait till after dark to move her and she can be moved then. I sure hope this helps you.
That is exactly what I was going to say! Give each broody their own fenced in spot on the floor of your coop. If you leave the girl outside on her nest, she's going to be dinner for some nasty predator sooner or later.
MOVING A BROODY HEN Randy Henry California I recieved this email and then ask Randy Henry to write me his method: My broody Hen is on day 12 of the incubation period. She's with my other hens in one of the nest boxes, but I would like to move her to a brooder pen at some point. When should I do it? \\ The choice is to do it now or at some point before the expected hatch date, or wait till the chicks have hatched? Then I would have to place some kind of partition to the pen to seperate her from the others at hatching time. How about moving her a day or two before there's movement in the eggs & perhaps less chance of nest desertion? Has any one moved broody hens with what results? Randy Henry reolied: I have moved a least 100 broody hens over the yrs, & the following method has worked 100% of the time. Get two cardboard boxes of an appropriate size to accomodate the hen to be moved. They(the two boxes) should nest(go) one inside of the other, one is a bottom or nest proper, the other for a lid to cover the nest with. Cut an entry/exit opening in the box you choose for the bottom, then nest it with straw or shavings, or better yet, both, by lining with straw then back filling the straw with shavings. Place her eggs in the nest, put her on them, put the top of the box over her & move her to where ever you want her to be. Do this at night. leave her undercover all that night, all the next day, & uncover her the next night, late enough so she won't get off the nest. Have fresh water & feed available for her when she gets off the nest the next morning. When she wakes up, she will think she has always been there. There should be as little light inside the box as possible without sufficating the hen. If you feel you have to put air holes in the box, cover with a cloth of some sort to keep out the light. Chickens can only count to 2, after two nights, she will be well settled in her new location. Next time this comes up, move your hens asap after they start to set. Once she has hatched off her brood, you can move her anywhere you want her, to raise her chicks. After she is finished with the nest, toss the nest box in the trash or burn it. No worries ever about contamination. Happy hatching Randy Henry
Thank you very much for the responses, that is helpful information. Has a hen ever died from dyhydration that went broody?
