First time broody mama... unsure of what to do

[GenevieveHad]

Hi everybody! So I had put eggs in the incubator a week ago today, had a hen go broody three days ago... she has sat on the nest for the past two nights and has seemed to be sitting pretty well, but I have noticed her up several times. I’m having the great debate of wether or not to put the already incubated eggs under her... looking for advice. Here’s my chicken brain list of questions:
- will she accept chicks if they hatch a week earlier than expected?
- what’s the vitality rate if she decides to not continue to sit? Say I go to work all day, come home and she’s back in the roost again- will those eggs be shot after a whole day of neglect or can I put them back in the incubator? I’m in SW MO and we’re running 30 at night sometimes up to 70 during the day...
- should I separate her or leave her in the coop? I’m afraid chicks will fall off the ramp after hatch! It’s pretty steep.
- if I do move her, can I just block off an area under the coop and separate her from the rest of the flock or will this cause her stress?
Attaching pics!! Also added a poll haha
Thanks

 

[GenevieveHad]

Anybody have any advice? I’m also afraid she might kill the babies... I’ve heard horror stories. Don’t know if that’s more or less likely if she is in the coop or in her own space?

 

[GenevieveHad]

 

[aart]

Deep Breath!
I'd wait at least a few days, give her fake eggs...see if she's really broody...then move her to a space in coop but fenced off from flock. See if she sticks after being moved.

Probably better to give her the chicks as soon as they hatch rather than move the eggs under her. I've read that broody should be setting at least 2 weeks and chicks should be a young as possible when snuck under her at night....you'll have to search on that, I've never done it.

 

[GenevieveHad]

Thanks I needed that deep breath haha
If I move her to underneath my coop and fence her off do you think that would work? Thought the chicks would be safest that way

 

[GenevieveHad]

I added pics in the first post

 

[aart]

Thanks I needed that deep breath haha
If I move her to underneath my coop and fence her off do you think that would work? Thought the chicks would be safest that way

That might work, not ideal.
I prefer them to be inside the coop,
it's safer(and feels safer to hen so she'll settle better) and out of wind/rain.
You need to be able to easily access the enclosure too,
to change out feed/water and reach nest to place chicks behind/under her.

 

[RoosterML]

I fairly recently had the same questions as you. I was all “eggcited” I had a broody. Long story short I moved her twice as I was inexperienced and keep thinking of something better for her I should say I thought it was better anyways. So I did not take eggs out of my incubator to give her I just gave her some other eggs I wasn’t really worried about. In the end I had her blocked off from the flock and after about a week and a half she gave up on the eggs. It was also really cold out so that didn’t help. Personally next time I will just leave her with the flock to the place she picked for herself. Yes there are risk associated with that also but like I said I will give that a go next time.

 

[GenevieveHad]

I feel like I could block off a portion inside the coop and then I wouldn’t have to move her... the after babies are a week old or so maybe create a little enclosure underneath the coop so the babies and mama have more space? Best of both worlds? Several things I have read just say to leave fake eggs underneath her and slip the babies under after they hatch. I feel like this might be the safest in case she turns out not to be a good mama.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

So much depends on the hen and her chicken brain.

Personally I would use fake eggs, or golf balls, to see if she really wants to sit. Then there is no risk to the eggs you already have started. If she’s already low in the coop to where new hatchlings aren’t going to fall and get injured I’d say leave her there. I tried blocking off an area for my broody and like Houdini she and the chicks would be outside. They don’t figure out the ramp right away. I had to put mine in the coop several times, but mamma always sat on them to keep them warm. If you’re worried make a safe huddle box area under the coop. That way if it is cold or rainy she can usher them inside some sort of cover.
Just keep an eye on her and have a brooder ready just in case.