Do you leave broody hens in the coop or separate?

[Chickassan]

I let them stay in the coop but fenced off in their own area so there aren't any fights over nests or random eggs or broody abuse " flock isn't always nice to them".
Once chicks hatch and are mobile everybody is set free.

 

[jlholm]

There are unsurprisingly lots of variables.
The various tribes free range here and have multiple coops and other nest sites to choose from.
I prefer hens to sit and hatch in their tribe coop. It makes integration so much easier and the chicks hatched with the rest of their tribe around them tend to learn faster and have a better survival rate.
Problems can and do arrive when a junior hens tries to sit and hatch in the tribes coop.
Some senior hens will drive the junior hens off her eggs. This isn't because the senior hen is just plain horrid, it's because as senior hen she has demonstrated her ability to get to be the senior hen and in chicken thinking it's her genes that should go forward; not some unproven juniors.
Mostly here the junior hens will try to sit and hatch away from the others because she knows she is junior.
I try to ensure that the senior hens are the hens that sit and hatch if possible. I want if possible her genes to go forward as well.
I rarely let pullets sit at all.
So, if she is as you write a junior hen then it may be best to separate her. Unless you are desperate for chicks I wouldn't let her sit at all and would wait for a senior broody.

Thank you!

 

[NorthernMIFlock]

I had my first broody experience with a 1 y/o Buff Orp last month. She chose a nest box that wasn't a favorite so I let her stay put in the coop. As soon as her chicks hatched I moved her to the floor underneath the nest boxes and partitioned off a small area. By day 2 she was out of the nest with her chicks and wanted OUT of that small brooding area. I let them go and they are all doing well so far, the older hens stay away from the babies and my Buff is still puffing up when they get too close, so I think her protective instincts are very good. Good luck to you!!

 

[jlholm]

View attachment 1832213 I had my first broody experience with a 1 y/o Buff Orp last month. She chose a nest box that wasn't a favorite so I let her stay put in the coop. As soon as her chicks hatched I moved her to the floor underneath the nest boxes and partitioned off a small area. By day 2 she was out of the nest with her chicks and wanted OUT of that small brooding area. I let them go and they are all doing well so far, the older hens stay away from the babies and my Buff is still puffing up when they get too close, so I think her protective instincts are very good. Good luck to you!!

Thanks!

 

[Th55]

Last time I allowed this one mother would kill the other mothers babies and so forth.

Do you free range?
I’ve got a hen with 2 week old chicks and hatching some now in incubator with the plan to sneak them to the two broody hens I’ve got staking claim to nests now. Now I’m wondering which way to go with them.

 

[2 many chickens]

Do you free range?
I’ve got a hen with 2 week old chicks and hatching some now in incubator with the plan to sneak them to the two broody hens I’ve got staking claim to nests now. Now I’m wondering which way to go with them.

I don't with my bantams, they have their coop that's connected to a pretty decent sized enclosed area.

It may work for others but it didn't for mine. I had to remove all the babies because they just kept killing them shortly after they hatched. They were sitting together too, which was probably a bad idea to begin with. The silkie became broody 2 weeks after the cochin began sitting. I had to take all the chicks from the two. Even after I did that, they both were stuck in some crazy trance.. sitting on nothing, the eggs had all hatched. No eggs under them, they were even trying to sit on each other's heads like their heads were eggs. I had to take them out of the coop for days and days for them to snap outta it.

Now my other hen just hatched her own clutch in that same coop and no issues. Babies are doing great and the others don't pay them any mind. Including the two that I was just talking about.

I'm thinking if your hen has 2 week olds, she won't be bothered by the new mama and her babies. The new mama should protect her chicks and work them into the flock. It should work out fine. Just keep a watchful eye.

 

[2 many chickens]

I forgot to ask, are they sitting brooding together or away from eachother?

 

[MROO]

I keep mine with the flock but separated. They have their own little area.
I will also never allow broodies to brood together again. Last time I allowed this one mother would kill the other mothers babies and so forth. It was a mess.

X2 here! I'm lucky enough to have enough space to put a dog kennel right inside the coop, so that's where I put my broodies. I did learn - the hard way - to put hardware cloth around the outside, though, so the chicks can't slip out of the kennel where Mama can't protect them. We went through a lot of Blu-Kote with that batch!

 

[2 many chickens]

X2 here! I'm lucky enough to have enough space to put a dog kennel right inside the coop, so that's where I put my broodies. I did learn - the hard way - to put hardware cloth around the outside, though, so the chicks can't slip out of the kennel where Mama can't protect them. We went through a lot of Blu-Kote with that batch!

I just seal off a little portion of the coop with garden netting. The flock can still see mama and her new babies but no touch. I will probably remove it soon, babies are almost 2 weeks old. I was just being extra cautious this time around. Before I did not seal an area, lessen learned!!
Dog kennels are what I use for new chicks being integrated into the flock
I don't even have a dog lol

 

[jlholm]

I forgot to ask, are they sitting brooding together or away from eachother?

Mine are away from each other on opposite ends of the nest boxes.