Thought a hawk got her... thought wrong

[grace112]

I have a little bantam hen who for the past almost week has been missing I figured a hawk got her and that was the just the sad fact of the matter, until this morning when i went out to feed the others there she was eating really fast like she had to get back to somewhere so I got my lawn chair and watched her for about ten minutes she ate got water and then slipped under a old pile of plywood so I walked over and took a look and there she was with about eight eggs she had been incubating. Now this is the first time I've had a hen bout to be a mama so i was just wondering is there anything special i should do for her and would she reject the eggs if I moved them the place she has them is known to house king and rat snakes and if I can I'd like to try to move them and her to a safer location. I would be mighty grateful for any information that anyone can offer, thanks

 

[JanO]

I would just leave her alone. She obviously feels safe there, and if you move her or the nest she could abandon them. As far as doing something special, maybe you can throw a little feed and place some water closer to her. Other than that I wouldn't do a thing.

 

[mstricer]

If there are snakes, I would move her. You can move her at night. Put her in an enclosed area and give her food and water away from the nest, but close enough she doesnt have to go to far. Move the eggs first then get her and place her on them.

 

[grace112]

Thanks for the info. I decided not to move her and just put a natural snake repellent all around her and the wood pile, I'm just to scared she will leave them.