One of my Buff Orpingtons decided to go broody on me. We added a rooster to our flock this year and he's been doing his thing, so I decided to let her go ahead and sit. I popped all the eggs that were laid yesterday under her (11 of them) and she seems to be happily sitting on them.
My question is-- should I leave her in the main coop or move her to the barn into a stall all by herself? I have 16 other hens plus the rooster, and 4 nesting boxes in the coop now. The nest box she decided to sit in is one of the favorite nesting boxes, so I'm a little concerned about the other ladies trying to shove her out. It's also elevated about 2 feet off the ground on a platform, with no ramp down -- the full grown hens hop on and off no problem, but I am a little concerned about the chicks getting down when/if they hatch.
I have a totally empty 10x10 stall in my barn right now that has fresh woodchips down -- would it be better to move her there so she isn't bothered? And if so, how soon would you advise moving her and the chicks back after they hatch? I'd really love to have the opportunity to see mama raise them "as nature intended" and let her take them outside to free range, etc. rather than being shut up in the barn.
My question is-- should I leave her in the main coop or move her to the barn into a stall all by herself? I have 16 other hens plus the rooster, and 4 nesting boxes in the coop now. The nest box she decided to sit in is one of the favorite nesting boxes, so I'm a little concerned about the other ladies trying to shove her out. It's also elevated about 2 feet off the ground on a platform, with no ramp down -- the full grown hens hop on and off no problem, but I am a little concerned about the chicks getting down when/if they hatch.
I have a totally empty 10x10 stall in my barn right now that has fresh woodchips down -- would it be better to move her there so she isn't bothered? And if so, how soon would you advise moving her and the chicks back after they hatch? I'd really love to have the opportunity to see mama raise them "as nature intended" and let her take them outside to free range, etc. rather than being shut up in the barn.
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