Hatching eggs under my hen.

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RodNTN

RodNTN

Hatchaolic
8 Years
May 22, 2013
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The Volunteer State
My Coop
My Coop
Hi everybody! I need some help with ideas on a broody coop for my Silkie who has decided to go broody and sit on 10 eggs. I'm very excited! I have looked at ideas for a broody coop and none really satisfy my needs. I need something that will hold one bantam hen and a few growing chicks. I'm not even sure the eggs are going to hatch but I want to be prepared if they do.

I want to keep her in the coop with the other chickens just separated from them. I need something cheap, easy, sturdy, and quick. I need to separate her because my other chickens keep trying to run her out of the nesting box when they want lay their egg. I marked her eggs with a pencil so I can tell them apart. Any ideas? Pictures would help. Thanks in advance!
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Dog crate? Small rabbit hutch? One of those cute, little pre-made coops from TSC? FYI - if you leave her around the rest of the flock, you can let her and the chicks out with them after they hatch. She'll protect them - just make sure they have plenty of room.
 
thanks! So I just let her and her chicks free range with the rest of the flock? I have cats, dogs, and a lot of hawks. I don't think my old dogs would hurt the chicks, maybe the cats. Even though the cats are very scared of her since she attacks them a lot. As for the hawks, I do have a lot in my area. I always see at least one a day spying on my chickens- its eerie. :( As for the dog crate, rabbit hutch, and the small coops at TSC, my TSC carries all of the those things. I think I'll just get a rabbit cage for her, they have a large selection of those. :)
 
You mean real free range! Mine are in a huge fenced yard that keeps cats and dogs out. My guess is if your cats and dogs don't
Bother the big chickens they won't bother the chicks with the hen, either. I can't help with the hawk, though. That's always a risk unless they're all penned.
 
Are your birds completely free run or is there a coop they can stay in for a week or so?
What I did for the first week after mine hatched was let my other hens out into the run at daylight and locked the coop behind them. Then put them back up at dark. There was water and food both in the run & in the coop.

My dog thinks the hens are part of the pack. I had 3 peeps get out the 3rd day they were let into the run (9 days old). She ignored them.
The first time you let the peeps out to free range, see how your other pets react, be prepared to separate them quickly.

Other hens should not bother the peeps and your rooster may evenhelp take care of them.
 
Okay thanks everybody! Yes they are completely free range. Could I just keep them in a large rabbit cage for a week or so? I have two coops but if I shut the coops so the other hens and my rooster couldn't it in that might be a problem. :( My hens need to lay their eggs in the coop in the nesting boxes.
 
RodNTN said:
Okay thanks everybody! Yes they are completely free range. Could I just keep them in a large rabbit cage for a week or so? I have two coops but if I shut the coops so the other hens and my rooster couldn't it in that might be a problem. :( My hens need to lay their eggs in the coop in the nesting boxes.
Click to expand...

Yes - you can keep them in for a week. The hen will not be happy, and you'll have to clean up her hideous broody poop, but they should be fine for a week.
 
I would use a dog crate and put it in one of the corners of the coop (done this many times), but they aren't that cheap...your least expensive method might be to buy chicken wire and staple it to the wall of the coop (again, sectioning off one of the corners of the coop)? Then secure another piece of chicken wire on top so no one jumps in. You could clip or tie the 2 pieces together (top and side) to make your "cage door" so you can clean her area when needed, give her more food/water, etc.
Gosh I wish I could free range mine like that. The last 3 times I've had a hen hatch/raise chicks, I've had to isolate her until they were 4 weeks old, then they were fine on free range. Any age before that and they disappear one by one each day. Neighbors cats the likely culprit...
barnie.gif
ETA- this has been my experience btw. I know some people can get away with letting mama and babies free range from day 1, but it's never worked well for me.
can't wait to see pics!
 
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