Best set up for broody/hatching hen

[rockinpaints]

We isolate them just to keep the other hens from laying eggs on top of them. That way all chicks hatch at the same time. (We use a small dog kennel)

We tried just marking the eggs with a pencil but the humidity from the hen erases the pencil marks....

 

[phasian]

I put my broodies in a sheep stock tank in my utility room. That way I can monitor the hen; make sure she doesn't have external parasites, etc. I play classical music 24/7 in that room.

When the chicks hatch I can interact with them and get them used to human socialization as a lot of my birds are sold to city chicken keepers who want tame birds. I add greens, grassy divots, etc. to provide a diversity of food and stimuli.