How to Hatch Eggs With a Broody
- 1). Keep the broody hen in a confined area such as a chicken coop or aviary. This way you will know exactly where she is when you have eggs to give her.
- 2). Keep the hen separated from the rest of the flock while she is broody. Other more aggressive members of the flock can pick on hens that stay on their nests or she may become aggressively protective of her nest.
- 3). Provide a nest box to the hen. The nest box does not need to be fancy. A simple wooden box or pet crate filled with straw for bedding will work. Providing a nest, even before you have eggs to give her will help keep her interested in incubating and hatching eggs.
- 4). Put hatching eggs in the broody hen's nest when you see that she is displaying broody behavior. Broody hens will rarely leave the nest, molt feathers from the breast and belly, and may become defensive of the nest. If your hen is defensive, you may need to wear gloves and long sleeves to protect yourself from pecks when placing the eggs in her nest.
