Just wondering if you can foster eggs to an empty nest with no eggs? I will soon need to move eggs from one nest because last time the hen only fed the first chick that hatched. She has 3 eggs now. I want to hedge my bets in case this happens again. The other nest I want to move the eggs to is a paired couple where for some reason the hen doesn't lay eggs. This hen is the right age and in breeding condition but has never laid eggs for me. As well as save some chicks from the other nest, I'm hoping this will kick start this hen with no eggs to start laying. Any advice would help. Thanks,

 Ash 

Hi There. If she isn't sitting on eggs and you put them in her box the most likely outcome is that she will clean them out of her box and destroy them. 

Sometimes hens wont breed because they are to young, to old or they have fertility issues that mean they will never lay. 

 

 I see. The hen that doesn't lay must have fertility issues then. A shame, as she is my best looking hen and I paid a decent amount for her. I guess i'll have to hand raise the other ones when they hatch. Thanks

 

 

You could potentially try giving the barren hen a few cool mints or something similar to an egg and see what she does...If your very lucky and she sits you could then introduce the eggs. But it would be rare for that to work.