Trouble with a Violently Broody Buff

[rawketstarling]

Hullo!
My buff orp has been broody for the past few weeks. I thought it was cute, and that she'd figure her way out of it. However, when she left for food & water today, i checked her nest and she was sitting on 11 (unfertilized) eggs! I thought maybe I'd get her some chicks to help a girl out--besides, it'd be adorable to watch her mother them!
Alas, she is QUITE vicious. Nothing like the other broody behaviors I've seen online. I moved her & the nest box into the prepared box this evening, and managed to dump her out of the nest to gather the 3 eggs I'd left her for the rest of the day. I purchased 4 day-olds at the feed store this afternoon, however, anytime i go near here to try to foster them to her--she pecks violently at both me AND the poor chick!
I don't know if she's just not sleeping, if I should wait longer (it's 10pm here in Austin), or really, how to approach her--she bit and SHOOK the pillowcase I was trying to use as a shield. I don't really have a good setup for a chick brooder anymore, I guess I counted on her accepting them.
So here's my question--do I wake up later in the evening to try for when she's more asleep? Do I wait for her to leave the nest during the day and replace them that way? I'm just in a real pickle and don't know if I just didn't try hard enough/ the right way to get her to accept them tonight. Any help is appreciated!!

 

[aart]

I've asked the sage vets in the Broody Hen thread to come over and advise.

How long had she been setting before you moved her and tried to graft the chicks?
It's usually better to wait a day or so after moving to let them settle into the new spot...hindsight, I know.

 

[rawketstarling]

Yeah I read all through that thread, and watched videos and all sorts of stuff, but no one seemed to have one as violent as she's being! She'd been setting for a few weeks now, and I'd only just moved her (sitting in the nest box she'd been in, mine are detachable) so I wish I'd known all that sooner, for sure.

I waited until it was super dark, a bit later, and managed to get the chicks behind and under her. She tried to peck at them but they got too far under, and she just went back to sleep. Thankfully this morning as soon as I put the chick starter out she was up eating and showing them what's what! Super excited about this turn of events. Guess there's just nothing like experience!

 

[Sambi89]

Ok so I'm no pro but did you just move her to the new area tonight? If so I would let her hang out there for at least a night or two before giving her the new babies. Also there can be NO light when you put them in. If you have a flash light turn it off and just use your hands to feel around. Being very quite and slow about it. But some hens aren't fit to raise babies. It's not uncommon for some broody hens to be bad mothers. I guess people are this way too right. Good luck and I hope the pro's come along promptly and give you more info.

 

[aart]

Yeah I read all through that thread, and watched videos and all sorts of stuff, but no one seemed to have one as violent as she's being! She'd been setting for a few weeks now, and I'd only just moved her (sitting in the nest box she'd been in, mine are detachable) so I wish I'd known all that sooner, for sure.

I waited until it was super dark, a bit later, and managed to get the chicks behind and under her. She tried to peck at them but they got too far under, and she just went back to sleep. Thankfully this morning as soon as I put the chick starter out she was up eating and showing them what's what! Super excited about this turn of events. Guess there's just nothing like experience!

Oh GOOD!! So glad to hear that!!