Broody nest location decision

[Tracyree]

Trying to decide where to move my broody. She's in the main coop sitting on fake eggs and I'd like to slip fertile eggs under her tonight.

I have a run that has a tiny mini coop, but it's 24" high. Can't imagine day olds climbing the ladder/ramp to get in and out.

Another option is a plastic dog crate with door off in run. (The run is crazy secure, hardware cloth sides, top and apron)

So would she be better off in the wood mini coop up high or the plastic crate on ground?


It's HOT out, in 90's during the day and humid.

 

[iwiw60]

Not having pictures to see I would venture a guess that it would be best to put her in the dog crate in the run. Make sure she has water and feed just outside the crate (not inside) .. this way she'll get up likely once a day to scarf down some food, drink, and do a god-awful poop! Yikes!

I would also say to go ahead and slip the fertile eggs under her tonight as you planned (mark the fertile eggs) and then tomorrow NIGHT move the entire nest, straw and all over to the dog crate. Believe me...that broody will follow you!! In fact, wear a long-sleeve shirt and some gloves...broodies can get really hostile when you're trying to move them. Watch her for awhile to see that she is settling down in her new digs and voila! Problem solved.

Wishing you well, and let us know if you get some chicks!!

 

[Tracyree]

Thanks. I tried moving her this afternoon but she was not having it. She fussed about an hour and I let her back to her old nest. Put the fertile eggs under her and will try moving her again tomorrow NIGHT and see how that goes.

Here is the tiny coop she can use or I can put a dog crate under it. Kinda hard to see, it's just a small hutch, about 3' long and maybe 18" deep. The pen is INSIDE the main run and I'd leave the pen off for broody and let her have the entire run (we only use it when we are out of town)

 

[iwiw60]

Thanks. I tried moving her this afternoon but she was not having it. She fussed about an hour and I let her back to her old nest. Put the fertile eggs under her and will try moving her again tomorrow NIGHT and see how that goes.

Here is the tiny coop she can use or I can put a dog crate under it. Kinda hard to see, it's just a small hutch, about 3' long and maybe 18" deep. The pen is INSIDE the main run and I'd leave the pen off for broody and let her have the entire run (we only use it when we are out of town)

That's a nice setup!! Perfect for a broody and her soon-to-be chicks! Yes, I can imagine you had trouble with her trying to move her during the day time....try again tomorrow NIGHT when the rest of the flock are in sleep mode...keep us updated!

 

[Tracyree]

I was thinking she could stay in little wooden coop until chicks hatch, then offer the dog crate after?

That pen has a tarp over it now, so I'll leave the top and side but take front off so she can have room

 

[Tracyree]

Well ultimately the decision has been let to her. She refuses to sit on them if I move them. Moved the eggs and her last night around 10pm. This morning she was pacing and mad, eggs cold. I moved her and eggs back to her chosen coop nest. Stinker.