Will hens peck when one tries to take their eggs?

[chixcoop]

I'm wondering if my hens will peck me when I try to take their eggs, when they are sitting on them for example.

 

[GitaBooks]

I don't take eggs out for under most of my hens except broodies, and most of my broodies will peck in defense of their eggs.

 

[drumstick diva]

Apart from broody hens, when hens lay in the morning, they generally leave the nest and explore outside. That is a good "peckless" time to collect the eggs.

 

[junebuggena]

Most girls don't like to be disturbed while sitting on the nest preparing to lay. If a hen is on the nest, come back in an hour and collect.

 

[chixcoop]

Thanks, but what is a broodie?

 

[GitaBooks]

Thanks, but what is a broodie?

Its a hen that wants to sit on eggs and hatch them.

 

[chixcoop]

Will broodies peck you then, if they are mostly in their coop?

 

[GitaBooks]

Will broodies peck you then, if they are mostly in their coop?

Broodies peck at people who try to remove their eggs. Some of the tamer ones may just growl.

 

[mechanic57]

If a hen is in the nesting box to lay an egg, its best to come back later to collect eggs. They seek a private area to lay and disturbing them could cause them to start looking for another place to lay their eggs. Collecting the eggs every day will reduce the chance that they will go broody and try to sit on the eggs to hatch them. Hens can go broody and try to hatch the eggs even if there is no rooster around to fertilize the eggs. So collect them every day, but don't disturb them in the process.

 

[Bernadine503]

I have a hen who is going broodie and is sitting on unfertilized eggs. I want to give her some fertile eggs but when I try to collect the unfertilized eggs....she pecks hard at me! Normally she is a sweetheart. What is the best way to collect eggs from a broody hen? Do you use gloves?