"Broody hen" section in my coop....is my idea sound or should I go another route

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Keep each broody away from each other’s nest and chicks. It’s not that you are guaranteed to have problems but games often have very strong broody instincts and you are more likely to have problems. Set them up where they don’t share any common areas or their nesting/foraging areas need to be far enough apart where they really don’t have a common area.

Something that will factor in is how strong that maternal instinct is in your strain of games. Not all games or any other breed have the same instincts. That’s hard to determine until you see problems and then it is often too late so he reasonable precaution would be to separate them.
 
I am thinking it might be prudent of me to build a predator "resistant" broody hen box or two this summer that can be kept outside of the main coop and not take up my valuable floor space. I could keep them separate, secure and take care of any aggression issues from them or other broody moms. To recap what has been said here if I can spot broody right away I could pull that broody mom before an entire clutch of eggs is present and try to get her into the brood box especially if it s a dominant mothering type like the games. With the mild mannered moms if they go broody in the laying area then just let her stick around in there. Since my boxes are fairly high then I can move her to a lower one near ground level once the chicks are up and about. I am not trying to over think this because even though I know I will make changes to the coop as the situation dictates I would prefer they are only minor ones. I feel comfortable about all other aspects of the coop design and coming from a professional building background like to have as many scenarios planned out early to create an efficient design that doesn't need costly manipulation later on.
 
TDog77 said:
As in don't let the games brood in the common area ever as it will create a problem?  Or do you mean if I have a separate brood area keep two broody games away from each other?  
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If they are to be confined, then confine them separately. If not confined, I still effort to get separation during the day where they have separate loafing, feeding and roosting areas with chicks. My rule of thumb for free-range game hens is so that once all are free-range, ground roosting hens with chicks are at least 50 feet apart. They do interact during the day but usually only minimally. Mine would be inconsistent when it comes to performing as broodies when confined in close proximity. Full sisters and mother / daughter pairing are more likely to work but they must be together at all times.


You will likely see the hens with chicks actually make a "crowing" sound that I think serves as a dispersal mechanism. Red Jungle Fowl do the same and even American Dominiques do it although it does not seem effect dispersion with latter.

Think about feeding stations and cover patches.
 
TDog77 said:
I am thinking it might be prudent of me to build a predator "resistant" broody hen box or two this summer that can be kept outside of the main coop and not take up my valuable floor space.  I could keep them separate, secure and take care of any aggression issues from them or other broody moms.   To recap what has been said here if I can spot broody right away I could pull that broody mom before an entire clutch of eggs is present and try to get her into the brood box especially if it s a dominant mothering type like the games.  With the mild mannered moms if they go broody in the laying area then just let her stick around in there.  Since my boxes are fairly high then I can move her to a lower one near ground level once the chicks are up and about.  I am not trying to over think this because even though I know I will make changes to the coop as the situation dictates I would prefer they are only minor ones.  I feel comfortable about all other aspects of the coop design and coming from a professional building background like to have as many scenarios planned out early to create an efficient design that doesn't need costly manipulation later on.  
Click to expand...


The moving a hen once she becomes broody will be tough. Mine would break / cease to be broody as indicated previously.
 
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