Actually, sometimes you do have to distract the hens if they start getting broody, or they’ll sit on the eggs and peck at you while you’re trying to gather them. My secret is to throw a bunch of scratch feed into the pen outside the coop, which usually sends them scrambling. Failing that, I can always use the broom to lift them off the eggs and pin their heads against the ceiling of the roost so they can’t peck.
Actually, sometimes you do have to distract the hens if they start getting broody, or they’ll sit on the eggs and peck at you while you’re trying to gather them. My secret is to throw a bunch of scratch feed into the pen outside the coop, which usually sends them scrambling. Failing that, I can always use the broom to lift them off the eggs and pin their heads against the ceiling of the roost so they can’t peck.
Never had that problem with our chickens. Ours must have had less maternal instinct.