Broody Stays In Main Coop Or Move To Separate Coop?

[ChickenGirl555]

I also posted this in the broody thread but didn't get a response...

I have my first broody sitting on 4 eggs and so far she's been inside our "main" coop that we call the "Blue Coop" because of its color. We also have a "Red Coop" where there are currently six, 12-week-old chicks living that are almost completely integrated. I was going to move broody and her eggs into the Red Coop once the chicks are integrated, but I just read the featured threat of the week about moving their hens and people are saying it's better to just leave the broody where she is. I was only going to move broody because I wanted to protect her chicks, since I was worried she wasn't high enough on the pecking order to protect them (Although she is on the higher side), but that thread made me realize that her being broody and grumpy and bossy has probably raised her dominance in the pecking order, since even the rooster won't go near her. If I locked the flock outside during hatching and possibly the first day (at least until it's dark), would you think that the chicks and broody could be unbothered? I don't want to have to separate them but I'm just worried of this first clutch going completely downhill.

My Blue Coop (if you click on the "My Coop" link on my profile thingy here, you can see it) is the type that's raised with 'stilts' and a ramp, and the door and nesting boxes are on opposite sides. The roosts are in the 'attic-like' part of the upper half of the coop, so I can't really separate the coop in half without tons of effort. I'll be on break during the time they will hatch (Day 21=June 14th) so I will definitely be supervising them all day during hatching (since I'll be so excited!) so if supervision and a 'guard' near the coop door is all that's needed, it can be done.

Any help on how to protect my chicks but keep the broody with the flock is really what I'm aiming for. I hope somebody sees this...Thanks in advance!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You can do it either way and there are advantages to each. If possible, move her and the eggs. Make the nest as comfy as the original.
If the coop is big enough, the young birds can stay in the red coop. She'll stay in the nest and won't be bothered by the other birds.
If the young birds are still in the coop when they hatch, she'll protect them.

 

[Fluffnut]

If you do move her do it at night when she's all sleepy and won't freak out as easily. I know what you mean about broody hens- one of my hens (lowestnin tje pwcking order) pretends to be broody while laying so the other hens don't. bother her. Then she'll go back to normal. :

 

[Shadrach]

I much prefer it if the broody sits and hatches in her coop.
Generally I've found that if a hen is prepared to sit and hatch in the coop she is confident that she will be able to defend her nest and chicks there if necessary.
Less senior hens and particularly pullets tend to nest outside or in a spare coop here.
I would make sure she can leave her nest at will to poop, eat, drink and bath. The bathing is important, especially in a coop with other chickens. Eating and pooping away from the nest is also important.
The great advantage is mum will integrate the chicks. This can save days of frustrating work trying out look but don't touch methods, having to section of parts of the coop etc.
The other advantage is the chicks will hear the other members of your flock while they are in their shells and will once hatched be less wary of the other flock members. Mum will protect them anyway.
In the event that things go wrong, you can always move mum and chicks but until hatch time I would leave her where she is.

 

[Shay1]

I currently have a broody myself she has 13 guinea fowl eggs, which I started in an incubator not realizing their hatch date was going to be the day I arrive home from church camp. A few days after realizing my situation the Lord answered my prayers and I got a broody hen when I needed her. Best of all she is one of my sweetest hens, however she went broody in the nesting box. So what I do is mark the eggs she is allowed to keep and each day I collect the extra. Two to three days the eggs are supposed to hatch (the same time you would put an incubator in lock if you were using one) I put the hen in lockdown by locking her in the nesting box with food and water next to hen. I wait till the day after all the chicks hatch (or in this case keets) to allow bonding time and then I move the mother and babies to our broody house where she can raise her babies safely.

 

[Perris]

I just responded to it on the broody thread