Choosing nest for broody chicken

[metcarl]

I have a broody chicken that I’m about to put fertilized eggs under. I don’t want to separate her if I don’t have to. There are three nest boxes in the coop. I moved her out of the only nest everyone was using. Then, most of them started laying in the one I moved her to, so I moved her to the last box. This afternoon I found her laying on 7 newly laid eggs (I only have 8 chickens including her!). How to I keep the others from laying eggs in her nest? Put a curtain up? I wouldn’t mind moving her except the last broody that hatched eggs seemed to do fine and it was easier to integrate her back into the flock after since she never left.

 

[sourland]

Can you put up a temporary chicken wire partition to keep the other hens away ? If allowed to bother her throughout the incubation, the results will not be good.

 

[metcarl]

The coop really isn’t big enough for that and she gets up about once or twice a day to eat, drink and poop. Whenever I’ve tried to separate chickens they seem to always try to get back with the rest of the flock.

 

[Sneebsey]

@sourland is right. I'd always seperate a broody hen; other hens may lay in the nest, causing staggered hatching or rotting eggs. They may bother the hen off the nest, causing her to abandon the eggs, or injure the chicks when they hatch. I use a tiny chicken coop with attached run, but a wire partition would work too; something that will allow the other hens to see and hear the broody and her chicks, but not touch them is ideal.

 

[metcarl]

I have a dog house that I can put her in. I’ll put a nest in there, shavings and food/water. Should I keep the door shut on her for a few days until I know she won’t abandon the nest?

My only hesitation is that I don’t have easy access to the nest since there is only the main door to the house. It’s probably better that I leave her alone more anyway. However, last year when I had a broody I ended up assisting one the chicks hatching. I left the other one alone and it died fully intact in the shell (it had cheeped earlier in the day, then I think it couldn’t pip because the shell was too thick). I won’t be able to check on the eggs as easily. Last year’s broody was the head chicken so everyone left her alone and didn’t lay in her nest. This broody is one of the lowest, so they’re all kicking her out of the nest to lay. It’s funny they’re kicking her out of whichever nest she is sitting in and I’ve tried moving her to all three of the ones side by side. Today I got a few to lay in an empty nest by moving some nonfertized eggs there but there were still a few that laid in her nest.

 

[cmom]

I haven't let a broody hatch is several years. I have a brooder for a broody. I have a good secure small pen I put it in. It does have a pop door that I usually shut at night for my peace. I do put food and water in it for the broody and the chicks.