Broody hens move or not to move

[Shorty22366]

I have built my babies a new coop and run and I have3 Silkie hens sitting. My question is should I move them to new coop or let them hatch babies in old coop and then move them. Old coop is 4x6 and new coop is 16x20. What should I do.

 

[Chickassan]

Let them hatch where they are, your mamas are settled and comfy. Move them later or maybe they'll move themselves after the babies hatch. BTW Your autocorrect has you asking about a BLOODY hen.

 

[Shorty22366]

Let them hatch where they are, your mamas are settled and comfy. Move them later or maybe they'll move themselves after the babies hatch.

I will have to help them move. I was also thinking it was better to let them hatch where they are. These are first chick hatch I am so excited. Should be anyday now.

 

[Chickassan]

Aww, nothing cuter than a broody with littles. You'll love it!

I will have to help them move. I was also thinking it was better to let them hatch where they are. These are first chick hatch I am so excited. Should be anyday now.

 

[aart]

If hatching is imminent, leave them be for sure.
Let mama out with chicks a few days to a week after hatching,
so she can reintegrate herself and her chicks into the flock.
Is old coop close to big coop?
Do you have runs and/or free range?

 

[Shorty22366]

If hatching is imminent, leave them be for sure.
Let mama out with chicks a few days to a week after hatching,
so she can reintegrate herself and her chicks into the flock.
Is old coop close to big coop?
Do you have runs and/or free range?

Yes cops are close. I have to keep them in a large run because of neighbors dogs. It is large 40ft by 35 ft.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Personally... more than one hen hatching and trying to bring babies out at the same time is a total nightmare for the chicks... especially if they are the same colored Silkie hens. For that reason I don't let them have chicks closer than 2 weeks apart.

I recently faced this... and I chose to move the hens once hatching began or was well on it's way and they would stick to their nest instead of pacing to get back where they were. My mums DON'T leave babies until the babes can follow them but they will ditch eggs. The new moms and new babes started out in their new house/pen. Yes the mums paced the fence a little to try taking the babes back to the other coop they could still see... but with a couple days of putting them back to their new coop nightly, the routine was fixed and we never looked back.

I wonder how many times I type babes and people think I misspelled or auto corrected when I really meant babes?

Happy hatching!

 

[Shorty22366]

Let them hatch where they are, your mamas are settled and comfy. Move them later or maybe they'll move themselves after the babies hatch. BTW Your autocorrect has you asking about a BLOODY hen.

Haha