Broody outside the coop

[Jamieanne]

I have a hen who claimed a planter on my screened-in patio. She's been sitting on a dozen eggs for 15 days. My question is what to do after they hatch.

My chickens are free range. One rooster, 12 hens, 6 guinea fowl. But there are two dogs between where she has elected to nest and the coop. The dogs have been raised with chickens and are great with them, but chicks may be another story.

The coop is divided (and the dogs have an underground electric fence with collars so they can't get into the coop). I can easily move mom and chicks to the back coop, but I don't want to freak her out.

Advice?

 

[Blue Raptor]

@sourland @PippinTheChicken

 

[PippinTheChicken]

You can move broodies, but its risky. Some will be fine with it, or some will hate it enough to give up.
I moved my very determined broody to another nest box to clean the old one. She went outside and started screaming and running around (she's a real drama queen) until I put her eggs back. Then she was fine.

Once the chicks hatch (and mammas taking them out) you could herd or lure them (with food) to a comfortable coop.
You could even get a small coop and run to separate them if you want. But that's your choice