Moving broody hens to nest of hatching eggs

[Anonymous]

Have had 3 very broody hens for a week of so now. The maran always lays and has been sitting round between an old belfast sink and the house wall - straight on to the bare ground. We have hatching eggs that we would like the hens to incubate. We have made wee safe private areas for the 3 of them and tonight put them in with some straw, food and water, and some eggs (not the hatching ones) - just to see if they would settle on the nests. 2 of them were perfectly happy and took to it straight away - they had been sitting in one of the laying boxes in the coop. However the maran doesnt seem to have taken to sitting on the eggs. Do you think it might be the straw - as I say she always lays straight on to the ground and had been brooding there for a while now. Should I remove the straw, try something different or just let her do it her way ? One of my other hens successfully incubated and hatched 2 wee chicks and I had moved her when she was broody from the coop into one of those large dog crates just with a wee basket with some hay in it. Need to give her all the help I can - maybe I should cobble something together round in her favoured corner. She had been sitting there - not locked up at night and so obviously I want her safe - but also happy. Any comments would be well received. My plan was to see how they took to their new surroundings and if happy I would replace the eggs they are currently sitting on with the hatchng ones I would like them to bring on for me. Many thanks. N

 

[Davidd]

Hello, can you not put her somewhere on her own? a dark (at first) safe place- a rabbit hutch, broody coop etc, or try her on the eggs with the others in the same house at night- place her on the nest in the dark- if she has been broody for a while then she should sit - use some dummy eggs at first- I wouldn't let her sit where she is not safe :shock: The straw should make no difference at all. Let us know how she goes
regards, David

 

[Anonymous]

Well David - the Maran was obviously not a happy hen in her wee quiet spot we had made for her - so I let her out this morning. The three dummy eggs were cold and she had not sat on them (unlike the other 2 hens - replaced their dummies with the hatching eggs)> Nipped round the corner of the house to her favourite spot and laid some hay - she was off over the fence and shot round to her special place in seconds. So I have taken the plunge and put her some hatching eggs under her. I will knock something up to give her shelter and protection for tonight. I remember her last year - before we made the yard totally dog-proof - that hen sat for days on end in a corner completely outside - on a rough patch of ground - think she's a bit of a hippy hen and obviously likes camping. She was delighted with the eggs I gave her and made lots of happy noises as she gently pulled them in under her puffiness. I swear she was smiling and gave me a wink as she settled down contentedly!! See how it goes - will let you know. Thanks for your commnts. N