Should I move hidden eggs to the nests?

[Palegan]

I have a large backyard with a lot of places my new hen can hide her eggs. Found one today in the middle of some bushes. I want her to go broody so I can have some chicks. Should I move these eggs to a nest near where she sleeps?

Thanks in advance

 

[3KillerBs]

No, if your hen isn't already broody the eggs will just sit there deteriorating. It's also possible that the hens will break them.

You can put fake eggs in the nest to encourage the hens to lay there but there's no guarantee that any given hen will or won't go broody.

What time of year is it for you? Broodiness is more common in the spring.

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

You can move them to where you want her to lay to encourage her to lay there, but she won't necessarily go broody. What breed is she? Assuming you have other chickens too?

 

[Palegan]

No, if your hen isn't already broody the eggs will just sit there deteriorating. It's also possible that the hens will break them.

You can put fake eggs in the nest to encourage the hens to lay there but there's no guarantee that any given hen will or won't go broody.

What time of year is it for you? Broodiness is more common in the spring.

Thanks
Spring here

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Some breeds are more likely to go broody than others but it kind of just happens. I would definitely leave fake eggs in the box until you're confident you have a broody hen or they could go bad and nobody wants to smell a bad egg!
I have more broody hens than I know what to do with every year and it seems the number 1 trigger to encourage broodiness is to raise chicks next to their run, lol. I know it kind of defeats the purpose of having a broody if you have to do all the work to raise chicks but it works.

 

[Palegan]

You can move them to where you want her to lay to encourage her to lay there, but she won't necessarily go broody. What breed is she? Assuming you have other chickens too?

I'm not sure what breed she is, she is very mixed I believe.
I have 2 other chickens of a very small breed (much smaller than her), 6 chicks (none her's) and 1 young rooster

 

[Palegan]

Some breeds are more likely to go broody than others but it kind of just happens. I would definitely leave fake eggs in the box until you're confident you have a broody hen or they could go bad and nobody wants to smell a bad egg!
I have more broody hens than I know what to do with every year and it seems the number 1 trigger to encourage broodiness is to raise chicks next to their run, lol. I know it kind of defeats the purpose of having a broody if you have to do all the work to raise chicks but it works.

Interesting, thanks for the tip

 

[Palegan]

Can they go broody outside? Where it is a bit colder and exposed?

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Can they go broody outside? Where it is a bit colder and exposed?

They can, but it's not as desirable. Hen's will usually select a sheltered area to make a nest.

 

[Palegan]

Thanks