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

[Nats Chickens]

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

Incubate, I once 'snuck' 4 chicks under a broody, she panicked, had to rescue them, never had a broody since. I would incubate under a hen, but I wouldn't give her chicks.

 

[GenevieveHad]

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.

She’s got a mixture of fake eggs and infertile eggs under her now.. might try to remove the infertile ones and give her another fake one tomorrow. Not much of a golfer? I might wait until my next days off and see what I can work out... I feel like I could make a little ramp out of the nesting box and then if she decides to sit for another week build a little partition inside the coop if I think she’ll take them. I’m afraid The ramp from coop to run is too steep for young babies. I think hatching in incubator might be the way I do it... there’s too many options!!

 

[GenevieveHad]

Incubate, I once 'snuck' 4 chicks under a broody, she panicked, had to rescue them, never had a broody since. I would incubate under a hen, but I wouldn't give her chicks.

So you would incubate under her and take away her chicks? Or you just wouldn’t try to sneak chicks in? Did you try at night?

 

[Nats Chickens]

So you would incubate under her and take away her chicks? Or you just wouldn’t try to sneak chicks in? Did you try at night?

I would let her raise the chicks she had incubated, but not try to sneak any under her. Yes, I did try at night.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Ok, for what it's worth, here's my two cents. In my experience when a hen gets broody she will pick the spot. If you move her and her eggs she may just abandon the whole project. I have never moved a broody and had that work. I have had my Maggie brood in a "second floor" nest box. I left her there and when her eggs hatched I moved them to the lower nest box and she accepted that. I'm not a big fan if incubating either. Oh, what a hassle! Temperature has to be right, humidity too. Oh, and are they being turned? etc. I would much rather let Momma hen do all the work while I relax with a glass of wine! I take advantage of any broody hen I have and if she doesn't have more than 3 eggs, I give her more (I have a wonderful rooster). Once hatched, the broody hen takes care of everything. She shows the chicks the food and how to scratch for worms and how to roost and I'm still relaxing! No heat lamp is needed, no checking day and night to be sure there is food, water and the heat is sufficient. Sorry for the rant. Obviously I'd go with the broody method any day. The hen, however, will pick her place and you shouldn't go against that. Good luck!