Broody kicked out of coop by another hen - problem?

[hoping4better]

So I've got a broody, she's only been broody for about 3 days and has had eggs for 2 days. She's half bantam, but is still 3/4 normal size, so she's probably not at the top of the pecking order.

So, today I noticed that I guess one of the other hens had enough of her protectiveness and kicked her out of the coop. Then sat on the eggs to lay her own. 20 min later the broody was 'brooding' just outside the nest grouling and pacing while the other just sat there ignoring her. I kicked the other hen out of the nest and put the broody back on her eggs.

So, the question is this: How much of a problem could this be?

I don't think I have any other options as I don't have the room or materials to seperate the broody from the other hens, so I'm stuck with this set-up, I think. Any suggestions??

 

[uncle rico]

i'd seperate the broody hen from the rest of the flock, that way theres no problem

 

[justtoni44]

It does not have to be fancy to find a way to seperate..........
My hens love a cardbord box when sitting.
Do you have anywhere you could put one.
We also have a dog travel kennel which is great and can be purchased from craigs list.often very inexpensive.......
I have seen photos of hens using a 5 gallon bucket turned sideways.
Hope this helps.poor baby neds some privacy and saftey.
Good Luck

 

[Barrdwing]

I've had this happen a lot, and it was a real headache. The broody hen spent all her time being mad because the other hens were throwing her off her nest, and she got really stressed. She also never lost her broodiness, and was constantly climbing into other boxes and brooding any eggs she could find. Then she'd abandon those and try to go back to her original box. Space was an issue for me, too; I couldn't subdivide the barn any further.

Finally I gave up and bought some one-inch cage wire from the feed store. I cut out pieces and J-clipped them into a cage that's 30 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 18 inches tall. One end hinges down, and is kept closed with snap rings. A cage like that, I can put on a shelf in the barn, or hang it on the wall, or even from the ceiling--somewhere that's a little dark and private. I can also make the cage darker by splitting a paper feed sack and tying it to the back half of the cage. I made nest boxes out of cat litter tubs. When one of our banty hens goes broody, I put her in the wire cage with one of those nest boxes and some fake eggs. If she stays broody, then I give her real eggs.

 

[hoping4better]

I guess I could use an old rusty cattle pannel (2"x4" openings, I think) I have and cordon off a corner of the coop. I can stretch plastic netting around it after hatch to keep the chicks in. It'll take space away from the others, but the only time they spend in there is sleeping anyway and there more than enough roost space. If I do this, how much space does she need outside her nest box?

It'll be difficult to feed and all, but anything for the girls, right?

Thanks for the input!

 

[Barrdwing]

Our bantams manage OK in wire boxes that are only 30"X18"X18". The "deluxe" wood-frame-and-wire boxes I built earlier are 2 foot square. For a large hen, I'd think that having 4-6 square feet total should be fine. She really only needs enough room to step out of the box, eat and drink, and take a dump. Then she'll want to go back into the nest.