What Should I Do With My Broody Hen?

[ravensravelry]

Thanks for the advice. I decided to move her to just a sectioned off area of the main coop so she will be familiar with it. She can't stay in the main nest because the other chickens try to take the nesting spot and often bully her to do so (she chose the "favorite" nesting spot to brood in). I'm not worried that her broodiness will break. I've bothered her a lot with moving and building and changing her eggs, but she is still as broody as ever.

That sounds like a great plan! Happy hatching

 

[TheAlarmCluck]

UPDATE: I moved her last night into the broody area. She seemed to be doing fine and she was still sitting on the eggs. This morning I checked on her and she is still broody. I went in and filled up the feeder, and she hasn't come out or complained yet. I think it was a success! The fertile eggs are arriving today or tomorrow and we will give them to her on Friday.
Thank you everyone for your help!

 

[Party_Chicken]

UPDATE: I moved her last night into the broody area. She seemed to be doing fine and she was still sitting on the eggs. This morning I checked on her and she is still broody. I went in and filled up the feeder, and she hasn't come out or complained yet. I think it was a success! The fertile eggs are arriving today or tomorrow and we will give them to her on Friday.
Thank you everyone for your help!

That’s great! Update us when the babies hatch!

 

[TheAlarmCluck]

That’s great! Update us when the babies hatch!

Will do!

 

[TheAlarmCluck]

The hen is doing well so far. However, I think she is a bit paranoid that we might take her eggs. She never gets off her nest! We have fed her the past few days by placing food and water right next to her nest. And she only eats with a lot of coaxing. We gently take her out of her nest every morning so she can exercise for a few minutes. Does anyone have ideas of how I should get her to eat and drink on her own?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

The hen is doing well so far. However, I think she is a bit paranoid that we might take her eggs. She never gets off her nest! We have fed her the past few days by placing food and water right next to her nest. And she only eats with a lot of coaxing. We gently take her out of her nest every morning so she can exercise for a few minutes. Does anyone have ideas of how I should get her to eat and drink on her own?

I often place both the food and water next to the nest, so she doesn't need to leave. She still will naturally leave, which is once to twice a day to go to the bathroom. If you see her going to the bathroom on the nest, that's when you have problems.

 

[TheAlarmCluck]

I often place both the food and water next to the nest, so she doesn't need to leave. She still will naturally leave, which is once to twice a day to go to the bathroom. If you see her going to the bathroom on the nest, that's when you have problems.

Thanks! I've been thinking of doing that. She doesn't poop until she comes outside. But I have to lift her up and bring her outside, otherwise, she won't come out.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Thanks! I've been thinking of doing that. She doesn't poop until she comes outside. But I have to lift her up and bring her outside, otherwise, she won't come out.

You're welcome. When you're picking her up, be careful. Gently place your hands under her wings to check for any eggs there. I've had a hen or two who secretly had eggs hidden under their wings and dropped them once moved.

 

[TheAlarmCluck]

You're welcome. When you're picking her up, be careful. Gently place your hands under her wings to check for any eggs there. I've had a hen or two who secretly had eggs hidden under their wings and dropped them once moved.

I'll be careful. Thanks again.

 

[TheAlarmCluck]

Today was day 7 of the incubation, so we candled the eggs this morning. They all seemed to be developing well except for 3 of them: 9, 11, and 12 (we numbered the eggs 1-12). 12 had an air sac and yolk, and we could faintly see veins. However, it was not as visible as the other ones. 11 had an air sac but no veins at all. I assumed this had never started developing, but we left it inside until our next candling day (10). 9 was the most confusing. It had tiny veins but we couldn't see any embryo. Also, it had what looked like a tiny crack. It was a bright white streak on the side, about 1 inch long. I decided to leave it until day 10, because that was what I was told to do on internet sources. However, when our broody hen went back in, she stared at the eggs for a few seconds, walked away, came back, and promptly rolled 9 out of the nest. It cracked, so we threw it out. Did she do this on purpose, or was it by accident?
Thanks.