Broody hen?

[Love]

I am looking after 4 hens for a lady in my village whilst she is away.

One of the hens was sat on the nest box yesterday morning and seemingly hadnt moved until this evening. I guessed she was on some eggs and wanted to remove then before they went bad. I shuffled her off and collected the eggs but am now worrying this was not the right thing to do?!

Anyone more knowledgable out there who can explain this more or have some advice for if it happens again?

 

[Suelin]

If there is no cockerel they wouldn't hatch anyway. You'll need to check daily that the others haven't laid for her again but you won't do her any harm by chucking her off to get any eggs away. Other than that don't worry, she'll come off the nest once a day to water and feed etc. She'll give it up eventually as well.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Sounds like hen is broody. Best thing is just remove the eggs laid daily and then as above poster says, to just chuck her off the nest.

One way of dealing with a broody hen is to give her something cold underneath her, like a marble slab or a slate tile. This would discourage her from sitting.

OR put her in a metal cage underneath her so there's air coming from below; just another way of doing it.

But as your're only looking after her, I wouldn't worry. She's only doing what's natural!!!

 

[Sare]

Just keep collecting the eggs at least daily and evict Mrs Broody from her nest regularly. Ours get sin-binned if they persist but leave that for owner to do if she pleases on her return.