- Sep 16, 2012
- 26
- 0
- 32
Since I'm hoping to get some broody hens this year, to hatch, or even just raise some chicks, the main question I have (since practically everything else seems pretty straight forwards) is, can broody hens and their chicks be in with the main flock? Most of my info has been taken from "The modern homestead: Let Mama Do It" which is a couple of really great articles.
So, I plan to build a 'Broody Box' to keep them in while they set, which will either be on the floor, 16 inches above the floor, or mounted on the wall, all options being inside of the chicken coop. Now, the reason I decided to do that is so that she does leave, get on the wrong nest, and kill the eggs that she had formerly been sitting on by letting them get cold.
After the chicks have hatched, I have a couple options... I can keep the new family in the broody box for a couple weeks, something I really don't want to do, or I can leave the door to the box open, so that they can go in and out of the box and coop as they please (my chickens free range), or, being as I have an old, smaller chicken coop (for about ten chickens) I can house the Brodies and chicks in there, and let them free range with the flock, but sleep in the little coop at night.
So, in case I confused everyone's, here are my questions.
- Should I put my 'Broody Box' on the floor, about 16 inches off the floor, or mount it on the wall at about eye level?
- Should I keep my broody and chicks in the broody box after they've hatched (to protect them from the flock), leave the door open so they can come and go from the box and coop as they please, or house them in a separate coop overnight, and let them free range with the flock during the day?
So, I plan to build a 'Broody Box' to keep them in while they set, which will either be on the floor, 16 inches above the floor, or mounted on the wall, all options being inside of the chicken coop. Now, the reason I decided to do that is so that she does leave, get on the wrong nest, and kill the eggs that she had formerly been sitting on by letting them get cold.
After the chicks have hatched, I have a couple options... I can keep the new family in the broody box for a couple weeks, something I really don't want to do, or I can leave the door to the box open, so that they can go in and out of the box and coop as they please (my chickens free range), or, being as I have an old, smaller chicken coop (for about ten chickens) I can house the Brodies and chicks in there, and let them free range with the flock, but sleep in the little coop at night.
So, in case I confused everyone's, here are my questions.
- Should I put my 'Broody Box' on the floor, about 16 inches off the floor, or mount it on the wall at about eye level?
- Should I keep my broody and chicks in the broody box after they've hatched (to protect them from the flock), leave the door open so they can come and go from the box and coop as they please, or house them in a separate coop overnight, and let them free range with the flock during the day?