Changing a broody hen's nest to a maternity ward nest?

[Karlkurla Chooks]

Here's the context for my question:

Recently I had a broody hen - the other chickens just laid their eggs next to her, despite her vocal annoyance. As there were no fertile eggs, on the eve of the 21st day I placed two newly hatched chicks from the stockfeeds shop underneath my broody hen. I also placed some food and water for them to eat, and hung a mosquito net over the nest to keep them inside.

I left them alone for most of the 21st day, and prevented the rest of the flock from bothering them by locking them up in the coop - they actually broke out by the late afternoon! But by then they had already laid their eggs in the new nesting boxes, so they no longer went to the old nesting place where the broody hen was.


A day later, I shifted the mother hen and her chicks to a tent I had set up as a maternity ward. They spent two weeks in there, then I started letting them out during the day. They would go back to the maternity ward at night. Two nights ago I shifted them to the coop to sleep with the rest of the flock (inside the cardboard box they were nesting in while they were in the maternity ward). Last night I found them lost, nesting in a large hole in my backyard. So I transferred them to the coop - instead of the cardboard box they bedded down in one of the nesting boxes. They are out in the yard again today having a great time, but I will watch where they go to bed down for the night this evening, and guide them back to the coop if they get lost again.


My apologies if that was too long a backstory!



In future, I'd like to put a broody hen in a dedicated maternity ward nest that is part of the coop sleeping area, rather than use the tent. But how do I transfer said broody hen and have her accept the maternity ward as her nesting site?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I personally have found it nearly impossible to move a broody hen. Some have said to have luck confining them tightly for a bit. I think it worked once for me. Otherwise I break hens now by just moving them somewhere else for a few days.

 

[Karlkurla Chooks]

I personally have found it nearly impossible to move a broody hen. Some have said to have luck confining them tightly for a bit. I think it worked once for me. Otherwise I break hens now by just moving them somewhere else for a few days.

I recently read that taking a broody hen for a drive in the car can break them out of it...?


Anyone tried that?

 

[Dqueakys Chickys]

I recently read that taking a broody hen for a drive in the car can break them out of it...?


Anyone tried that?

I have'nt tried this as the fumes from automobiles are extremely toxic to small birds.

 

[MROO]

I personally have found it nearly impossible to move a broody hen. Some have said to have luck confining them tightly for a bit. I think it worked once for me. Otherwise I break hens now by just moving them somewhere else for a few days.

I use a rabbit hutch on my front porch for my broodies, moving them into it while they're still setting. Once the peeps hatch, the whole family moves to a larger one that butts right up against the wall of the main run. Mama raises her brood alongside the rest of the flock, in sight but out of reach of the older birds - the classic "Look but don't touch" scenario. By the time the youngsters are old enough to join the flock, they're no longer a novelty, so integration is generally uneventful.
I have very small bantams, so rabbit hutches work for me. I found out the hard way that I needed half inch hardware cloth, to prevent escapees! For standard sized fowl, either a larger hutch or a brooder box built into the coop works well. I've seen some nice ones built under the roosting bars, with the top of the brooder serving as a poop board.

 

[Anon112]

I built a "nursery" in the area where my chickens roost. It's a 4x3x3 area and I'm currently using it for the second time. The back is plywood, the sides are 2/3 plywood and then hardware cloth at the top. The whole front is hardware cloth except for where I framed out a little door.

The first time, I moved them all three days after the hatch. This second time, I moved them the first day.

It worked great the first time and seems to be going well this second time so far. It lets the other chickens see the chicks. When I let the flock out to free range I let them out of the nursery so they can explore the run and have a little interaction with the other chickens.

And because it's located right under where the chickens roost, it's kind of like they're all sleeping together. When the first mom was ready to move her chicks up to the roost poles, she was able to start by getting them on the roof of the nursery, then over to the poles. (Yes, this setup does mean that the nursery roof is totally covered in poop).