Crowded hen house, should I move out broody hen and her eggs?

[turtleshell]

Hi all. I have a broody hen who I am about to put some fertile eggs under. She is currently sharing a small pen with my others while my husband is building a bigger pen. They all cram into the small space at night, quite happily but she does end up with at least one other sharing her nesting box. Do you think the other chickens will bother her or break the eggs? Should I seperate her now rather than waiting until she hatches? Thanks.

 

[Mahonri]

Separate her now. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. (sometimes the broody is determined to set in only one spot) Other hens getting in and out of her nest box will ruin the eggs.

 

[turtleshell]

The other chickens don't bother her during the day, do think if I were to block of her nesting box at night so that they couldn't get in with her that this would be suitable.

 

[Mahonri]

That might work. Are you certain they aren't bothering her during the day?

 

[turtleshell]

They are all outside free ranging all day. One other will go in once a day to lay an egg and that is it. They don't go in until dusk otherwise.
I am quite new to chickens and this is my first broody. I am hoping that I haven't made a mistake ordering fertile eggs before they rest go in to the larger pen. I did think about when they hatched, the new pen will be finished before then and she can have the small pen to herself with her babies. Today was when I started to think about her being bothered while she is sitting. Like I said, I haven't noticed any bothering her and she is very outspoken but I am a little concerned about what might happen at night. I can't think of what else I have that would be suitable for her, unless I made her up a nesting box in my laundry or the house.

My other thought was, as it is so hot her at the moment, I could shut off the nesting boxes at night and the other hens wouldn't be able to get in. They could roost in a section that is nearly all mesh, but like I said, it is the middle of summer here.

We thought about putting her in and old guinea pig hutch that I have 5 week old chicks in but it is quite small and very low and it would get a bit hot in the area where she would nest.

Every few days she will coming running out and do a lap of the yard all psycho and then run back to her nest. Do they go a bit loopy like this when they are broody?

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
yes they do. What breed is she?

 

[turtleshell]

Araucana

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

I would move her right away just to be on the safe side. I have been sorry before leaving a broody in with the others and lost all but two chicks