Do i relocate my broody before or after her chicks are born?

[NorthernChick1]

I curently have a broody laying on a clutch of 5 in a dog cage in my chicke coop right now. We are on day 15 and its getting pretty cold out. I know she keeps the eggs warm but i am scared that they could get affected. Now im thinking of moving her into the basement this winter to raise her chicks. Im just wonderjng if i relocate her before or after the chicks are born? I am scarsd that if they hatch in the coop during the night that some may get cold and die.

Now an option i was thinkkng of was tjat i could srt a heat lamp near the top of the cage on the day before hatch day just to make sure. Then move them in the jouse after they are born.

What are your thoughts??

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would leave her be. She will keep her chicks warm. A heat lamp could overheat the hen. So could bringing her inside.

 

[Pretty Birds]

Im just wonderjng if i relocate her before or after the chicks are born?

I'd move her after she hatches the chicks. She probably won't break from her broodiness once the chicks are hatched.

 

[NorthernChick1]

I'd move her after she hatches the chicks. She probably won't break from her broodiness once the chicks are hatched.

Does she stay on the eggs when they hatch? Km afraid she gets off when the first one hatches and the rest grt to cold and dont hatch

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Most will stay on the nest for 2 days after the first hatches. With food and water within reach many hens will stay on the nest longer.

 

[Pretty Birds]

Does she stay on the eggs when they hatch?

She'll stay on the eggs until they are done hatching.

 

[3cousinsfarm]

My little Bantam Cochin hatched hers yesterday....I wasn't expecting until today, but I guess she can't count, lol. But I left her on the next yesterday (just peeked under to see how many had hatched.) Moved her today. She was setting in a foot tub (like you get in the hospital) inside the coop. This morning early, I picked up her up, foot tub and chicks and all and put her in a smaller hutch. It was very cold last night, but her babies were perfectly fine this morning. Now that they are out from under her to feed, I have a heat lamp in the center of the hutch, hung from the top but with the lamp sitting on a concrete block half. The heat radiates out. She can get up really close to it, or if she gets too hot, she can move away from it. So far, she is pretty close to it. It is only 50 degrees at the front of the coop and (I'm just guessing) probably 65 degrees closer to the lamp. Not hot enough for chicks to survive on their own, but with momma protecting them and keeping them warm, it is perfect.

 

[chickens really]

You can carry the crate and set her up in your basement. I'd set her up in a Brooder in the garage if possible? I then have a heat lamp over the feed and water so the Chicks stay warm while out from under Momma. The rest of the Brooder is cool.