Hi all, I am new to the forum and just found this site by accident. Looks great! I need some advice. I have a hen that is setting on some eggs in the outside of my chicken coop. She has tried desperately to hatch chicks, but the other chickens have killed her babies this year. I have a great hen house that is heated, and the other chickens are in there and cannot get outside at present. My concern is that at least one of her eggs has hatched, and it is going to get really cold here this week (down in the 20s). She is huddled under their ladder but not really protected well from the weather. What do you all think about my taking a large kennel and moving her eggs and her baby into it and transferring all of them up to the enclosed area? I could put her waterer and food in there. Do you that would disturb her too much? That way the babies would be protected from the other chickens, but she and the babies would be warmer. Thanks for any advice. I love chickens!!
Hen laying in winter
I don't know--it sounds like the perfect solution, but I don't have any experience with moving broodies. I am thinking of try to do something similar with a suddenly broody Golden Sebright. I have a single egg I am incubating in an incubator (a GS, but not hers) and I would like to let her hatch it--but I would have to move her to do it. I think I might chance it with yours if the weather will be very bad. Unless the other chickens being around will stress her too much.
I'd go for it. If the weather is too cold for them this is probably your best all around option -barring taking the heat and shelter to her which is impractical at best.
Hi Squirlatheart! WELCOME! I have absolutely no experience with broody hens! Mine are drive by layers. As the others have said, I find it to be the best answer possible. If she is truely broody, she wont care were she sits on eggs. We have one member trying to get her broody girl to stop sitting. So, for safty of the babies and mama hen I would.
Yes it be a good idea to move her but i would do it at night. She would be less likely to bolt and run back outside. Get the kennel ready with everything then when it gets dark move her and eggs and chick to the new nest. I can't garentee 100% she will agree with this but i move mine at night if i want them setting somewhere else and had only one get off the nest out of i don't know how many.
At least her and her chicks will be dry and warm and you will feel better too.
Harmony is absolutely right: She does need to be moved, and, night time is the right time. The baby needs to be protected from the cold and the other mature chickens as well. Good luck and keep is posted. By the way "WELCOME TO DAVES" . Haystack.
Thanks for the warm welcome and the great responses. I am so appreciative. Well, I made the move, and it went smoothly. I fixed the kennel with fresh shavings, food, and water. She is used to me picking her up, so I just moved eggs, chick, and hen without a fuss. She is setting in a nice cozy wind-free hen house and looks quite content. When she settles in, I will move her to a larger one. I definitely will sleep better tonight knowing they are not cold. Thank you all again. I look forward to reading lots!!
Congrats! Guess it goes to show how important it is to frequently handle or at least interact with your birds...
Your Welcome and i'm so glad it went smoothly for you. Happy to know you and your hen will sleep better tonight let us know how many babys hatch.
So glad you found your answers before I found this post SquirlAtHeart!
Only one thing left to say....
WELCOME TO DAVES!!!
yeah mama hen!!!! :D