•2 min read•from Raising Chickens or Other Poultry for Eggs, Meat, or as Pets
Chicken blew in with a storm. Question about nesting.
Our take
Hey there, fellow chicken enthusiasts! It sounds like you've got quite the tale of a feathered friend who blew in with the storm—literally! This young hen has made your backyard her cozy hideaway, and it’s heartwarming to see the bond you’ve built. Nesting in that hidden tree hollow sounds like a perfect choice for her, but it raises some clucking questions. If she’s sitting on eggs that likely aren’t fertilized, those little treasures may not hatch, and they could eventually go bad. It’s wonderful that you’re considering her well-being and trust. Keeping an eye on her while providing food is a great approach. Let’s dive into how to best support your quirky companion during this nesting adventure!
 | Hi everyone. Last year we had some pretty bad storms and we had a random young hen show up in our back yard after one. My wife got some feed and started feeding her right away. She would eat but was skittish if you got too close. It's been about 6 months now and she has stuck around just sleeping in the brush. Last month I finally bought her a nesting box to give her a nice home but I couldn't get her to go in it. Then she disappeared for 3 days and we thought maybe an owl got her. She came back one morning and was starving. After she ate, I watched closely to see where she went and found where she is nesting. She has picked a great nesting site up inside a small tree hollow and there's lots of ferns blocking the view. She has been on the nest for another 3 days now and so I brought her down some food. My question is, what will happen to any eggs she is sitting on? Will they eventually just go bad? We have no idea where she came from and, as far as we know, there is no other chickens anywhere close to us so the eggs can't have gotten fertilized. She pecked at me when I tried to pet her today. I could grab her I'm sure but I would hate to destroy the trust that we have built. I just want to make sure that she is going to be ok and not sit there, wasting away, while waiting for eggs that will never hatch... Thanks for any advice! [link] [comments] |
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#chicken eggs#chicken breeds#chicken behavior#chicken myths#chicken anatomy#chickens#fear of chickens#chicken#nesting#hen#eggs#storm#nest#feeding#hatch#trust#home#care#ferns#tree hollow