Well I have this broody 2ish year old RIR hen. We have 3 other hens and 1 rooster who can come in and out of the coop as they please.Should and when should a move her and her eggs....She has like 5 eggs from what I can see underher.
I moved mine into a crate within the coop after a week only because the other hens were leaving her eggs every day. I do not have a roo but it was a nuisance collecting them , and if you do have a roo the hatch will be too staggered for her to finish all the hatching successfully. If no one goes into her nest I would leave her Once momma hatched all of them I began leaving her door open and she brings them out every day with all her coopmates. So fun to watch
I moved my broody and her eggs after she had been sitting about 2 weeks. All went well. Good luck with your hatch. Terri
Ideally, before you give her eggs. When she starts collecting eggs, set them on your kitchen counter and move her to her pen, with whatever she has been suing for nesting material and the nestbox itself, if possible. Wait a couple of days to be sure she means business. Then give her the eggs you want hatched. Sometimes moving them breaks the broodiness, is the reason. I've had it happen. http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html
