Enough room for new chicks?

[eighthens525]

Sorry I lost this thread. So what did you decide? How is your broody doing?

She is doing great! I'm going to move her into the smaller enclosed outdoor area this week (she is due to hatch on the 21st) so she can spend a few weeks away from the other birds and while we figure out how to make the coop bigger.

 

[3KillerBs]

She is doing great! I'm going to move her into the smaller enclosed outdoor area this week (she is due to hatch on the 21st) so she can spend a few weeks away from the other birds and while we figure out how to make the coop bigger.

If you move her now before her eggs hatch there is a very good chance that she'll break her broodiness and you'll lose the clutch.

 

[eighthens525]

If you move her now before her eggs hatch there is a very good chance that she'll break her broodiness and you'll lose the clutch.

I have mixed feelings and worry though that if I don't move her and she hatches in the coop I'll have a hard time moving her and the chicks. And I don't know how everyone else will react to the new ones in there.

 

[3KillerBs]

I have mixed feelings and worry though that if I don't move her and she hatches in the coop I'll have a hard time moving her and the chicks. And I don't know how everyone else will react to the new ones in there.

Better to divide her space with off from the rest with wire while the hatch is going on. Then you can get her and her chicks at night and put them in the safe space.

 

[eighthens525]

Better to divide her space with off from the rest with wire while the hatch is going on. Then you can get her and her chicks at night and put them in the safe space.

So just wait until they're all hatched then move them?

 

[eighthens525]

I agree with @3KillerBs , wait until she hatches. You'll be amazed how easy she will be to move after that, she will follow those babies. Were you able to secure your little outside area with hardware cloth?

That's the plan for tomorrow.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

About 4'x6'

I would then recommend no more than 6 chickens total for the coop, based on the general guidelines

Since you have more than that already, I wouldn't add any more, but I also think that if there are no issues resulting, that the chickens already residing will potentially be ok.

 

[eighthens525]

My coop is 8x9, I have 4 hens and 3 pullets (6 months old), one of my hens just hatched chicks last week and I can tell you that none of the other ladies are allowed within 3-4 feet of her chicks or she goes on an all-out assault. IMO I don't think you have enough room for her to hatch chicks in that coop. Could you come up with another area where she could have some space?

I have an outdoor area that is secure with chicken wire all around but I was afraid to move her. I was planning on moving her to that area once she hatches them to give them all private space for at least a few days and then see how everyone does. I know I need to expand the coop at some point just didn't know how much time I had.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I have an outdoor area that is secure with chicken wire all around but I was afraid to move her. I was planning on moving her to that area once she hatches them to give them all private space for at least a few days and then see how everyone does. I know I need to expand the coop at some point just didn't know how much time I had.

Baby chicks can go right through chicken wire and so can predators. maybe you can reinforce it with hardware cloth. How long has she been sitting?

 

[eighthens525]

Baby chicks can go right through chicken wire and so can predators. maybe you can reinforce it with hardware cloth. How long has she been sitting?

Yes I am definitely going to line with hardware cloth. She's on day 5.