Broody hen?

[oliviaandjosh4]

Our New Hampshire hen has surprisingly gone broody. After acting fun for about a week, we found her sitting on the nesting box for a long period of time. We lifted her up to see if she was sitting on eggs and sure enough she had 3 eggs underneath her, one of them being hers. I am wanting to know what will happen when the eggs hatch as far as do I need to be worried about my other hens or rooster messing with the new baby chicks? Should we take them away from her?

 

[chicmom]

Hello-

Mama will protect the babies. At least that's how it works with my flock. The chicks will stay close to mama. She usually kind of stays to herself, always on the edge of the flock. The babies will run underneath her if they feel threatened. She will be a fierce protector! Her flockmates will feel her wrath if they mess with her babies. (Of course, all hens aren't super great mothers, so keep an eye on things....)

Sharon

 

[oliviaandjosh4]

Okay I was mainly worried about the rooster as he has acted aggressive to us before and also the other hens peck and scare off our young pullets when we let them out to free range. Hopefully she will be a great mother and everything will work out! Also do you think we would need to put her in a different pen at night for all of them to sleep?