Broody hen getting attacked

[ehoneybee]

If it were my flock, I’d separate the bully until the chicks are at least a week old. When I’ve allowed my broodies to do their thing, they have the chicks in the flock anywhere from 24 hours to a week old. They integrate much easier when Mama has all those protective broody hormones going on. It may be more difficult in your case, though, if your coop is already crowded.

She's not really seeking her out. I only saw the one peck that evening when broody went to go back to her eggs. Maybe it was an isolated incident but I still think removing mama and the chicks to the other coop is the best plan. I just hope she has these babies soon!

 

[ehoneybee]

If it were my flock, I’d separate the bully until the chicks are at least a week old. When I’ve allowed my broodies to do their thing, they have the chicks in the flock anywhere from 24 hours to a week old. They integrate much easier when Mama has all those protective broody hormones going on. It may be more difficult in your case, though, if your coop is already crowded.

I'm thinking to open up the brown coop slowly after the chicks have hatched to see how the other hens deal with them. Then I can just close them back up as long as necessary and maybe start to work on a bigger coop situation.

 

[aart]

She's not really seeking her out. I only saw the one peck that evening when broody went to go back to her eggs. Maybe it was an isolated incident

Then I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[ehoneybee]

So, I assume I wait for all the chicks to hatch before moving her. How long will that take? Also, the coop I'm moving her to has a ramp down to the run, like most coops. I was thinking to put food and water in the roosting area until the chicks can get down the ramp. How long will that be?

 

[Shadrach]

It's too late now but for future reference.
Senior hens will often bully junior hens because as far as the seniors are concerned they have earned the right to reproduce and mate with the rooster. In the chicken world, senior hens are senior for a reason and that is they have survived to be senior. They get first pick at the food, should get the treats, and most importantly, get the attentions of the rooster.
In general with free range hens, junior hens tend not to lay and sit to hatch in the coops. The senior hens will often drive them off the nest and in extreme cases break the eggs.
It also makes life a lot easier for the keeper if they only allow senior or second in command hens to sit and hatch. None of the other hens are going to bother a senior hen while she sits and certainly won't give her chicks a hard time.
It is worth bearing this in mind if you want successful hatches and easy integration.

 

[ehoneybee]

It's too late now but for future reference.
Senior hens will often bully junior hens because as far as the seniors are concerned they have earned the right to reproduce and mate with the rooster. In the chicken world, senior hens are senior for a reason and that is they have survived to be senior. They get first pick at the food, should get the treats, and most importantly, get the attentions of the rooster.
In general with free range hens, junior hens tend not to lay and sit to hatch in the coops. The senior hens will often drive them off the nest and in extreme cases break the eggs.
It also makes life a lot easier for the keeper if they only allow senior or second in command hens to sit and hatch. None of the other hens are going to bother a senior hen while she sits and certainly won't give her chicks a hard time.
It is worth bearing this in mind if you want successful hatches and easy integration.

Ok thank you. There isn't really a pecking order but this hen is not lowest on the totem pole so I wouldn't have reason to think there's be a problem in the future. Any thoughts on my questions?

 

[aart]

So, I assume I wait for all the chicks to hatch before moving her. How long will that take? Also, the coop I'm moving her to has a ramp down to the run, like most coops. I was thinking to put food and water in the roosting area until the chicks can get down the ramp. How long will that be?

Why not just leave her in the coop she hatches in?
I wall off my broody to incubate then remove wall a week after hatch,
but many hatch right in with flock and it's fine.

 

[ehoneybee]

Why not just leave her in the coop she hatches in?
I wall off my broody to incubate then remove wall a week after hatch,
but many hatch right in with flock and it's fine.

I was worried a scuffle would happen and the chicks would get harmed. It's tight quarters in there. I guess if I did that, I would move the 4 back into the smaller coop and maybe 1 more (the one who was originally mean but might not be after all) too make sure there's enough space. Won't I have to still provide food and water for the chicks in the roosting area until they can walk down the ramp?

 

[Shadrach]

Ok thank you. There isn't really a pecking order but this hen is not lowest on the totem pole so I wouldn't have reason to think there's be a problem in the future. Any thoughts on my questions?

Yes. I think your plan is good.
I wouldn't disturb her until the chicks hatch. That's how I do it here.
The moment the hen looks like she has finished hatching; she may leave some unhatched or even partially hatched egg, I move her and the chicks to a separated coop. I have a couple that are secure and permit the hen to go into a protected run until she feels confident enough to venture outside with her chicks. (see my coop page) and other articles.
The above is for junior hens or hens who have nested either away from their tribes coop or outside in the open.
With senior hens who sit in their tribes coop, I just leave them to it.
The first few days are important for the chicks and the quicker mum can get them on natural ground and start teaching them to scratch, what's good to eat etc, the healthier and more confident the chicks are I've found.
I provide feed and water as soon as the first chick hatches and I provide it at the nest site. Until that time I don't feed a sitting hen at her nest. She needs to get off her eggs at least once a day to eat, poop etc and most importantly, break the trance that broody hens use to sit.
Once she is mobile with the chicks and venturing into the run, I feed in the run and this helps keep the nest site clean.
I have ramps to my main coops and they do pose a problem for chicks. I'm there at roost time to ensure that mum gets all her chicks up the ramp. I find it takes about three days of assistance and supervision before I am confident that the chicks have got the hang of it.
Because I free range, I've found some mums will get some of the chicks into the coop and abandon those that can't follow. You need to watch out for mum if you find you have to help the chicks in. The chicks sometimes give a distress call and mum comes out of the copp in full battle order.
I hope this helps.

 

[ehoneybee]

Yes. I think your plan is good.
I wouldn't disturb her until the chicks hatch. That's how I do it here.
The moment the hen looks like she has finished hatching; she may leave some unhatched or even partially hatched egg, I move her and the chicks to a separated coop. I have a couple that are secure and permit the hen to go into a protected run until she feels confident enough to venture outside with her chicks. (see my coop page) and other articles.
The above is for junior hens or hens who have nested either away from their tribes coop or outside in the open.
With senior hens who sit in their tribes coop, I just leave them to it.
The first few days are important for the chicks and the quicker mum can get them on natural ground and start teaching them to scratch, what's good to eat etc, the healthier and more confident the chicks are I've found.
I provide feed and water as soon as the first chick hatches and I provide it at the nest site. Until that time I don't feed a sitting hen at her nest. She needs to get off her eggs at least once a day to eat, poop etc and most importantly, break the trance that broody hens use to sit.
Once she is mobile with the chicks and venturing into the run, I feed in the run and this helps keep the nest site clean.
I have ramps to my main coops and they do pose a problem for chicks. I'm there at roost time to ensure that mum gets all her chicks up the ramp. I find it takes about three days of assistance and supervision before I am confident that the chicks have got the hang of it.
Because I free range, I've found some mums will get some of the chicks into the coop and abandon those that can't follow. You need to watch out for mum if you find you have to help the chicks in. The chicks sometimes give a distress call and mum comes out of the copp in full battle order.
I hope this helps.

It helps a lot, thanks!