broody hen keeps getting pushed off her nest

[chickenmama109]

hi i have a d,uccle that went broody a couple of days ago i have a fake egg under her and im waiting to put the real eggs under her this is her first time being broody and this is my first broody hen she is at the bottom of the pecking order and when my other bigger breed hens want to lay an egg they push her off her eggs would she be ok in a brooder in the garage and if so will the other hens forget about her will they pick on her even more when she comes back sorry for asking about my broody so many times im just wanting to get every thing right thanks for any help tips and info

 

[LoveDatChickenLife]

She’ll be fine in the garage as long there’s no cars or motorcycles moving around any time soon. The last thing you want it to has mama birds babies first breathe to be filled with gasoline.

I never had a broody hen before, but I read books about it and saw a lot on BYC.

Hope this helps!

 

[aart]

IMO it would be better to fence her off right in the coop.

 

[Morrigan]

Yes, you could raise her in a brooder in a clean, car-free garage. And, yes, the flock will forget about her, making re-integration of her and her chicks a challenge (not an impossible challenge, but a challenge).

If your coop is large enough, fencing off an area with the coop is the best case scenario. If your coop is small, it is more of a challenge. I once tried a system whereby I'd screen off the nest box for 4 to 5 hours in the morning when most egg laying was going on, then opened it back up the rest of the time so the broody could come and go. It worked pretty well in that the broody was able to sit to term and hatch out her chicks, but I did have one determined chicken squeeze in a couple of times to add in eggs. I also didn't like limiting the broody's access. And, it only worked because I was at home all day and could remove the screen after I saw the egg laying was mostly done.

 

[chickenmama109]

i o have room to fence off a place for her if its big enough to have a waterer and a feeder in it is that big enough for her so i will not have to let her out or should i still let her out

 

[aart]

i o have room to fence off a place for her if its big enough to have a waterer and a feeder in it is that big enough for her so i will not have to let her out or should i still let her out

2' x 2' of open floor space(not including feed, water, nest) should be enough space for her stretch her legs and poop.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I have 5'x5'X2' PVC runs that I use for chick integration and broodies. I have the runs inside my electrified paddock. I have totes with doors on them that I put inside the run with the broody. This prevents other hens from harassing her while allowing her to still interact with the flock.

 

[chickenmama109]

thanks for your help im thinking i should move her to a diff spot where she is at right know is on a plat form we belt next to the roost and there are laying box under that that the shavings keep falling out of so they dont use it if i move her will the other hens still bother her and will they was to use it when shes using it thanks so much for your help and info

 

[Redhead Rae]

Here are pictures of my run. I keep mama and the chicks in the run for a week after hatch, or until mama starts getting antsy about getting out. Then I'll let them out for an hour or two in the evening. Until she weans the chicks, I keep them in the run until about 10-11 in the morning so they can eat well and take away the feed when I let them out. If the chicks don't have full crops, I sometimes give extra feed in the evenings.

 

[Morrigan]

i o have room to fence off a place for her if its big enough to have a waterer and a feeder in it is that big enough for her so i will not have to let her out or should i still let her out

You will know if you space is big enough if you see poop in it after a couple of days. If you don't, you may have to manually take her off/put her back on the nest once a day.