Broody Hen and Eggs Indoors???

[HoustonFamilyFarm]

Ibhave a broody hen who is sitting on four fertile eggs. I dont have provisions to keep her and the chicks separate for 6 to 8 weeks outside. Can I bring her and the fertile eggs inside my house to be hatched and raised in a large rubbermaid tote? If so, what temperature should I keep her and the chicks at? If not, will it upset her greatly if I pull her eggs now and hatch them in an incubator?

 

[JaeG]

I've had bantams inside to brood and hatch eggs. She will want to take her chicks out and about so you'll need to rig up something outside so they can be outdoors some of the time and this will help with introductions to the rest of the flock as well. I've used a big indoor rabbit cage for inside time (but mine were bantams). We'd let them out for some exploring time if the weather was horrible but we have hard floors so it was easy to clean up any mess. If you have bigger chicks they'll need a puppy playpen inside so they have room to explore.

Room temperature is absolutely fine - hens are very good at keeping them warm enough no matter the weather.

Move your broody in the dark and hopefully she'll wake up thinking that's where she's been sitting all along. Remember she will need to get off her nest once or twice a day to poop, eat and drink, and some sand in a deep tote is always appreciated for dust bathing.

Alternatively she won't be offended if you take her eggs to put in your incubator. She will keep sitting until her hormones tell her nothing has hatched under her and she needs to rejoin the flock. They attach to a nest rather than the eggs.

 

[aart]

Why not just let her hatch in the coop?
It's best for integration into flock.
You might not even have to separate her, but if so only for the 3 weeks until hatch then another week.

 

[rebrascora]

I agree with @aart . I let my broodies incubate and hatch and raise their chicks within the flock. It makes life so much easier as there is no need to reintegrate and much less stressful for the chicks and broody. You also need to consider that temperatures are dropping now. If you bring the broody into the house for 6-8 weeks it will be a real shock to her system and the chicks to be put back outside when it has got so much colder. They will be far better to be outside from the start.

 

[L1sa]

Not to mention.... POOOOOOOOOOOO, STINK!! Have you ever seen/smelled broody poop!! Omg!