Broody hen

[Flockmama87]

hello, so I have a new broody. This is her first time going broody and she’s my first experience with a broody hen, I’ve had chickens for years but never a broody. She’s on day 10 (give or take a day, i candled this morning and she looks to be on track). My questions are should I separate her from the rest of the flock of leave her be, she is extremely low on the pecking order, as in, she’s just sitting on her clutch and other hens will come in, peck her head until she gets up and run her off, she comes right back but I’m concerned for chick safety once they hatch, another concern in temperature, I’m in southern Missouri and the highs are in the 60’s now, dropping to 30’s and 40’s at night, will she be able to keep her babies warm enough or do I need to supplement heat? Thanks so much!

 

[Embuck]

You should probably separate her. Hens can be incredibly mean to chicks. Whether you will need to supplement heat or not depends on your setup. Would it hold heat well? Would it block wind?
Also, how many eggs has she got?
Best wishes!

 

[azygous]

Your broody will handle the temperatures just fine, and she will keep her chicks plenty warm after hatch. However, you already are intuiting there will be a problem before and after hatch with the other hens disturbing her.

Many of us fix a nest on the floor for the broody that is also barricaded off from being disturbed by other hens wanting to lay in it. If you didn't do this, by hatch time, there would be few unbroken eggs left or the nest would be full of other hens eggs that would be incubating at different rates, causing a staggered hatch.

After the chicks hatch, there could be a danger, your hen being low ranking, that she may not be able to adequately protect the chicks from injury from the others. The barricade could come down after you see the chicks are all doing okay and the broody is caring for them well.

 

[Flockmama87]

Oh ain’t that the truth, I never thought of chickens as being brutal but I was so wrong there lol they just just be downright mean! Right now my coop is just a metal shed and everyone free ranges, they’re only in there at night to roost. I have an elevated brooder that I could put her in that as an attached run, my only concern about moving her is that she’ll quit on me. Which I could get out the incubator and finish the hatch but I really want her to do it. She has 10 eggs and everyone is alive and well as of this morning, movement from all and veining! I’m very excited!

 

[chickens really]

I use a Dog crate or a Brooder Box my Husband built me out of plywood...I first make a nest out of straw and pine shavings..Get feed and water ready then collect her eggs..I place them in the nest and then bring in the Hen...I walk away to give her privacy to settle onto the new nest...Easy peasy...I then introduce Chicks back to the Flock with Momma at around 3 days Old....

 

[Flockmama87]

I have marked her eggs so I know which are hers, I’ve been collecting new eggs every morning when she’s gets up to eat, so there is no chance of a staggered hatch. I don’t have the room to block off a separate enclosure for her, she also chose the favorite box to go broody in, while it’s not ideal, it’s what I have to work with.

Your broody will handle the temperatures just fine, and she will keep her chicks plenty warm after hatch. However, you already are intuiting there will be a problem before and after hatch with the other hens disturbing her.

Many of us fix a nest on the floor for the broody that is also barricaded off from being disturbed by other hens wanting to lay in it. If you didn't do this, by hatch time, there would be few unbroken eggs left or the nest would be full of other hens eggs that would be incubating at different rates, causing a staggered hatch.

After the chicks hatch, there could be a danger, your hen being low ranking, that she may not be able to adequately protect the chicks from injury from the others. The barricade could come down after you see the chicks are all doing okay and the broody is caring for them well.

 

[Flockmama87]

I use a Dog crate or a Brooder Box my Husband built me out of plywood...I first make a nest out of straw and pine shavings..Get feed and water ready then collect her eggs..I place them in the nest and then bring in the Hen...I walk away to give her privacy to settle onto the new nest...Easy peasy...I then introduce Chicks back to the Flock with Momma at around 3 days Old....

I have a fairly large guinea pig cage that I could use also, or the elevated brooder, the elevated brooder is not inside the coop so she would be on her own with her chicks without worry of being picked on.

 

[chickens really]

I just try to keep the stress down as she sets and hatches...I give her a few days to bond with her Chicks and for them to find their legs..Then out they go with Momma to the Coop...

 

[Flockmama87]

Would it be best to move her closer to hatch day? If I use the cage would it be best to keep it in the coop?

 

[chickens really]

That's your choice....I keep my Hen in my Garage that is converted into my Bird House for all my Bird needs...As long as she is safe and comfy setting she will be fine...Also as long as the Chicks can't get injured as she hatches them..Other Chickens can kill Chicks when Momma has not left the nest yet...I only know what works for me...