How to Take an Egg From a Chicken

Gathering farm fresh eggs every morning may seem like a wonderful way to start the day. Occasionally though, you will run into a hen that doesn’t want to give up her egg. If the hen is attempting to go broody, taking that egg may turn into a battle that will leave more than just her feathers ruffled. The key to winning is to be more determined than her to have that egg.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chicken food
• Vegetable matter or leftovers
• Spray bottle of water
• Long cuffed leather gloves

1. Entice the chicken away from the egg or nest with food. Tossing some chicken food or scratch on the ground may be enough motivation for her to leave the egg.

2. Try tossing vegetable matter into the pen. This can be any type of vegetable peelings, leafy greens or leftover vegetable side dishes such as corn, green beans or broccoli. Unless the hen has filled up on chicken food, veggies will almost always get her off the nest.

3. Use a spray bottle full of water to spray at the hen. This can startle the hen into running for dry cover.

4. Wear long cuffed leather gloves and reach under the hen to take the egg. Broody hens can be very protective of their eggs, so dress appropriately and move quickly to keep from getting pecked. A chicken’s peck can draw blood.

Tips & Warnings

• Many of the older breeds of chickens, such as Rhode Island Reds and Buff Orpingtons, are more likely to go broody. Newer breeds of chickens, genetically designed for heavy egg production, have this trait bred out of them.
• If allowed to sit the eggs, a broody hen can hatch 12 to 15 eggs.
• A hen can go broody even if there is not a rooster in the flock.
• Always break eggs into a separate bowl or cup before putting them in the pan. This can avoid a nasty surprise.

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