Setting hen

[medders]

I’ve got a hen setting on eggs , is there any harm moving her and the eggs ? I would like for her to be away from the other chickens.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I personally let a hen hatch with the flock but you can have issues with that. Many people isolate them from the flock. We all do these things differently.

If you move her put her in a pen where she is locked for the duration. Don't give her the option of going to her old nest or the other hens the chance to lay in her new nest. Otherwise you haven't solved the potential issues with brooding with the flock. You need a nest, food, water, and a very small space for her to go poop.

If you move the hen you take a chance on breaking her from being broody. Most can be moved without much of a problem but occasionally you get one that just won't accept the move. It's best to move them at night with as little light and commotion as you can manage. Most will accept the move.

Another risk in isolating a hen comes after the chicks hatch. Build your pen so the chicks cannot escape. If a chick can get out and leave the broody hen's protection it is at risk from other flock members or predators.

If you remove her from the flock you may have to integrate her and the chicks later. If her nest and where she keeps the chicks when they hatch is pretty close to where the others are those issues are usually pretty small.

Is your coop set up where you can build a pen around the broody and leave her on her nest? You might want to lock her in the nest while you are doing that so she doesn't get too scared, but that might eliminate the risk of relocating her.

 

[chickens really]

Definitely you can move her. Have everything set up with a nest and feed. Then put in the eggs and put the Hen down. Walk away for awhile till set gets back onto the nest. I do it all the time.