Building a broody safety zone?

[jenn-]

This is a two part question. First, is a it a good idea? Second, if so, how would you go about doing it?

The situation: My FIL has a farm area that is maintained by his farm hand. This "farm" is primarily an area of woods that is rented out during deer hunting season. His farm hand has some free range chickens that only use a very open barn for their overnight location when they feel like it. That said, he is raising some game hens that keep going broody but losing their eggs to predators of an unknown type. They have everything you could think of that could possibly be snatching the eggs. They are not nesting in the barn.

My thought is possibly building a box that has an open bottom that can be set over where ever the broody momma decides to put a nest. This would definitely not be a Fort Knox sort of box, but maybe something that could give these poor hens a fighting chance.

So good idea? If so, what size? Would it be better to build a dog house style box and move the broody into it once the guy finds the nests?

 

[21hens-incharge]

How about a strong chicken tractor so she can be up and about to poo and dust bathe. It could be placed on an existing nest but catching the right hen would be paramount. I would suggest at night while she is sleeping. You could make it with an apron that is lifted and ziptied to the other wire until it is over the hen then pin it down really well to keep diggers out. You would need a door on it to place the food and water in for her.
She would need checked on every morning and perhaps every evening as well.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/scaredofshadowss-chicken-coop-tractor
Possible inspiration for you here.

Personally I would capture and relocate the bird and nest to a safe zone that could be monitored better.

 

[jenn-]

Thank you for your reply. I'll have to run it by the farm hand when I see him later. I'm not sure he's as concerned about losing the eggs. Now that the hawk that thought the property was a great stop for a chicken nugget pick up has moved on, they haven't actually been losing any chickens, just the eggs.

 

[centrarchid]

See following link.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ng-things-pre-broody-and-broody#post_15077905


I use following (better detail) although will not be effective against baby skunks and opossums.

You might consider putting up nest boxes on inside wall of barn. Hens will likely adopt those but chicks would have to come down. Hens could be induced to use other cover then.

Having a dog or two would help.

 

[jenn-]

See following link.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ng-things-pre-broody-and-broody#post_15077905


I use following (better detail) although will not be effective against baby skunks and opossums.

That looks about like what I had in mind. Do you uncover her during the day and cover her back up at night?


You might consider putting up nest boxes on inside wall of barn. Hens will likely adopt those but chicks would have to come down. Hens could be induced to use other cover then.

Having a dog or two would help.

 

[centrarchid]

Yes, I have a dozen such pens at ready to cover broodies. Each morning I go out to prop a side up so hen can come out then put it back down the following evening. You still will need to work on excluding predators. Consider electrified poultry netting as that can provide some protection. At some point a fox or coyote is going to start working you and those broodies with their broods are going to be sitting ducks.

 

[centrarchid]

Where do the adults roost? Are they all games?

 

[jenn-]

Where do the adults roost? Are they all games?

I think most of the large chickens come to the covered barn overnight. The banties have an actual enclosure (not overly secure imo). They have a mixed flock out there. I do believe several of them are games.

 

[centrarchid]

Do you have any idea why the hens are not nesting in the barn? What kind of roosting options do they have in the barn?

 

[jenn-]

I

Do you have any idea why the hens are not nesting in the barn? What kind of roosting options do they have in the barn?

I really don't know all the details. The barn does not have doors that actually close so I'm not really sure that they'd be much safer in there. I was looking for something easy to help give the nesting girls a chance.