I spooked a nested hen now what?
 

Well guys and gals i went out this morning to do some hunting and after not seeing anything for the first 5hrs or hearing anything I descided to try and move. When i was moving I was able to walk up on a bearded hen on the ground aproxamitly 5ft from her. So i figured she was wounded but i could clearly see her beard so I was going to harvest her so just as I take my gun off safty she takes off running and I shoot and hit a tree that was in the path otherwise I know she would be dead. But here is the problem when I looked to see if there was blood were she had been there was 10 eggs so my question is will she come back to the nest or not?

RE: I spooked a nested hen now what?
 

That's a tough one to answer. She may or may not. I know of at least two times where the property owner next to me cut his field for hay and spooked a hen laying on a nest. Both times the hen never returned. He also ran over a hen on a nest. She never moved. Of course he killed her by accident. He took the eggs and was able to raise and release three of the turkeys, two hens and a gobbler. This is one reason why you should not be able to harvest bearded hens. I hate to say, but there is a good chance she will not return. On the other hand, she just may return. If she doesn't return, she will probably lay another clutch though. If a hen has to , she may lay as many as 4 or 5 clutches. I would go back and check later to see if she did return.

RE: I spooked a nested hen now what?
 

I would just avoid that spot if you can, she may or may not be back but it wouldn't be good to spook he again if she does.

RE: I spooked a nested hen now what?
 

she will come back. i chase hens off all the time and they have always come back. i have taken a nest of eggs once and incubated them and released them, now i have a bunch of turkeys in my parrents back yard, the turkeys never lived there before but now are thriving on an endless foodsource.

RE: I spooked a nested hen now what?
 

Hens are used to getting run off nests and they will come back. The only way you might end up of having done some harm is if it is raining or cold... the eggs and drown or freeze if not properly incubated for a long enough time period. Lots of times hens will act wounded and run out in the open when they are on the nest. The idea of course is to entice a predator to chase her, and lead them away from the nest or the poults... you know what they say about a mother's love.

RE: I spooked a nested hen now what?
 

if she doesnt.. then go back and take some eggs and get a hatchery and raise some turkeys hahahaha..

RE: I spooked a nested hen now what?
 

If you had just walked up on her and she spooked then she would come back, but being as you shot at her, and if you wounded her even a little then she may not..... Risk you take when you shoot hens.