First Time Broody

[JensHens1987]

I have chickens that are 8 months old, and one of them has been broody for about 1 week. This breed (a super blue egg layer) is known for going broody but I was surprised when she did, she seems too young! Initially I tried a few things to break her from her broodiness, but after a bit, thought what the heck. I ordered six fertilized eggs that should ship May 11th.

She has taken up residence in one of my two nesting boxes. I have a total of five chickens. Only my cochin uses the second box, no one else has figured out how to use the nesting boxes and they lay at will in the run or lower level of the coop. The super blue egg layer is content in her own private box and no one else seems to bother her.

My question: when the eggs come next week, should I move her to a separate location or just leave her where she is comfortable? I have read arguments for both scenarios but I feel that because she is the only one I have ever seen in this nesting box, and the others pay her little attention, that maybe I should just leave her there... my next question is that if she takes to the eggs and sits on them, do I move her and the eggs on the 21st day when they are about to hatch or just kinda block off her area of the coop and let her instincts protect the chicks. I'm just so new at all of this.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'll ask what does your coop and run look like, how big are they and how are they laid out? Is the coop elevated, do you have a ramp? What does your nest look like, a photo could really help.

My question: when the eggs come next week, should I move her to a separate location or just leave her where she is comfortable? I have read arguments for both scenarios but I feel that because she is the only one I have ever seen in this nesting box, and the others pay her little attention, that maybe I should just leave her there...

You will get the same different opinions. Some of us believe the only way to go is to always separate the hen. Some of us let them hatch with the flock. My personal preference is to let them hatch the eggs and raise the chicks with the flock, but I'm set up for that. That's why I'd like to know what you are working with, I might see some red flags that suggest it's not a good way for you to go.

my next question is that if she takes to the eggs and sits on them, do I move her and the eggs on the 21st day when they are about to hatch or just kinda block off her area of the coop and let her instincts protect the chicks.

Again, what are you working with? Personally I leave my broody hens alone. I let them decide when to bring the chicks off the nest and how. All I do is provide food and water on the coop floor where the chicks can get to it when she brings them off. I trust my broody hens to take care of their chicks. But again, I'm kind of set up where they can. And from experience I've found the more I interfere the more harm I do.

If you do try to isolate her and her chicks, make very sure a chick cannot leave the broody's protection. Use fencing with openings small enough the chicks cannot get through. Don't leave gaps at corners, doors, or underneath. If she can't protect them they are vulnerable to your other hens, some predators, or maybe they just can't figure out how to get back to her.

 

[JensHens1987]

I'll ask what does your coop and run look like, how big are they and how are they laid out? Is the coop elevated, do you have a ramp? What does your nest look like, a photo could really help.

My question: when the eggs come next week, should I move her to a separate location or just leave her where she is comfortable? I have read arguments for both scenarios but I feel that because she is the only one I have ever seen in this nesting box, and the others pay her little attention, that maybe I should just leave her there...

You will get the same different opinions. Some of us believe the only way to go is to always separate the hen. Some of us let them hatch with the flock. My personal preference is to let them hatch the eggs and raise the chicks with the flock, but I'm set up for that. That's why I'd like to know what you are working with, I might see some red flags that suggest it's not a good way for you to go.

my next question is that if she takes to the eggs and sits on them, do I move her and the eggs on the 21st day when they are about to hatch or just kinda block off her area of the coop and let her instincts protect the chicks.

Again, what are you working with? Personally I leave my broody hens alone. I let them decide when to bring the chicks off the nest and how. All I do is provide food and water on the coop floor where the chicks can get to it when she brings them off. I trust my broody hens to take care of their chicks. But again, I'm kind of set up where they can. And from experience I've found the more I interfere the more harm I do.

If you do try to isolate her and her chicks, make very sure a chick cannot leave the broody's protection. Use fencing with openings small enough the chicks cannot get through. Don't leave gaps at corners, doors, or underneath. If she can't protect them they are vulnerable to your other hens, some predators, or maybe they just can't figure out how to get back to her.

 

[chickens really]

Move her now to get settled into the new place on the fake eggs. She might break too? Then at least you can cancel the order or incubate if needed.

 

[JensHens1987]

Thank you for the reply... I tried to find some decent pictures. Up in the actual enclosed area of the coop- I have no food and water. The food and water are in the bottom wired in area. It is just shavings and the nesting areas up top, and that is where she is laying. I considered putting a food and water dish up there so she didn't have to leave the top area. There are two roosting bars up top- you can see in the one inside pic that there is a roosting bar in front of the nesting boxes. When the chicks hatch day comes I could potentially put a board in front to not allow the other chickens by them for the first couple of days and have food and water available. Or move her and maybe use a dog kennel to create a brooding area for her. Just wanting to have a solid plan prior to my eggs arriving sometime next week. Thanks again.

 

[chickens really]

My Broody is locked up top in the Coop with food and water. No access to the bottom of the pen. She hatched out but I'm waiting till the chick is a week old before I allow her to take it out. Then I'm putting them back with my flock. I only have 6 other Bantam hens and my Rooster. Momma will care for the chicks during the introduction.

 

[JensHens1987]

My Broody is locked up top in the Coop with food and water. No access to the bottom of the pen. She hatched out but I'm waiting till the chick is a week old before I allow her to take it out. Then I'm putting them back with my flock. I only have 6 other Bantam hens and my Rooster. Momma will care for the chicks during the introduction.

It sounds like your set up is similar to mine then... what do you do with your other chickens while she is locked up on top? I only have the one coop so I can't shut my others out at night, which is why I'm considering boarding up the back half of my upper coop, so the others can still come up at night and roost. She would still get airflow through the vent and I would have access to the back from the side door.

 

[chickens really]

It sounds like your set up is similar to mine then... what do you do with your other chickens while she is locked up on top? I only have the one coop so I can't shut my others out at night, which is why I'm considering boarding up the back half of my upper coop, so the others can still come up at night and roost. She would still get airflow through the vent and I would have access to the back from the side door.

Oh I have a big Coop and prefab Coops for my Broody mommas and chicks. I then would move the Hen and eggs to a Brooder set up.
She will need feed and water plus enough room to get up and poop.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I can't tell if you have hardware cloth on that gate or not. I see it on your fence. Those openings on that chain link look big enough that newly hatched chicks could get through. Also that rounded corner on the gate, is that big enough for a chick to get through? They will be surprisingly active just a few days after hatch.

I don't see any red flags about her hatching in that nest. I'd be willing to let her. But my concern is about what happens after hatch. My coop where mine hatch is at ground level so I don't have the experience with an elevated coop like that. I have concerns about them being able to use that ramp to get up and down, especially the first few days.

It doesn't look like you have much room up there. You might be able to block it off to give half of it to the broody and her chicks. You'd need food, water, and some room for her and them to poop. You need good access to clean it as they will poop, likely in the food and water. Also, I'd block it all the way to the top, otherwise the other chickens will probably treat their feed as special treat and keep it wiped out.

If you let them free to roam, after they get a bit mobile I'd expect the hen to take them out every morning and keep them out all day, feeding them mostly on grass and other things they forage. They'll probably fill up on chicken feed first thing in the morning, she might bring them back in during the day to fill them up, but they should spend most of the day out foraging. At night I'd expect her to bring them back to that coop to sleep. If they have trouble with that ramp they'd probably sleep at ground level.

I don't know the physical size of that coop/run or if you are able to free range them all day every day. It really looks small to potentially add six more chickens. Not sure if you have any plans for that. If you allow them to free range every day the hen should be able to take care of them around the other chickens. The risk from predators while free ranging is another issue. She could probably take care of them until she weans them even if all 11 of your chickens were locked in that coop/run, though that would be tight.

My concern is more after she weans them. If they free range all day every day, the chicks will be able to take care of themselves, at least as far as the other flock members. But where will they sleep at night without the broody hen's protection? If you try locking all 11 in there after she weans them I'd have real concerns for their safety from the older flock members during the day, let alone at night as they are settling down to sleep.

You are going to have these issues whether you move her to incubate or not. I just think your coop is too small.

 

[JensHens1987]

I can't tell if you have hardware cloth on that gate or not. I see it on your fence. Those openings on that chain link look big enough that newly hatched chicks could get through. Also that rounded corner on the gate, is that big enough for a chick to get through? They will be surprisingly active just a few days after hatch.

I don't see any red flags about her hatching in that nest. I'd be willing to let her. But my concern is about what happens after hatch. My coop where mine hatch is at ground level so I don't have the experience with an elevated coop like that. I have concerns about them being able to use that ramp to get up and down, especially the first few days.

It doesn't look like you have much room up there. You might be able to block it off to give half of it to the broody and her chicks. You'd need food, water, and some room for her and them to poop. You need good access to clean it as they will poop, likely in the food and water. Also, I'd block it all the way to the top, otherwise the other chickens will probably treat their feed as special treat and keep it wiped out.

If you let them free to roam, after they get a bit mobile I'd expect the hen to take them out every morning and keep them out all day, feeding them mostly on grass and other things they forage. They'll probably fill up on chicken feed first thing in the morning, she might bring them back in during the day to fill them up, but they should spend most of the day out foraging. At night I'd expect her to bring them back to that coop to sleep. If they have trouble with that ramp they'd probably sleep at ground level.

I don't know the physical size of that coop/run or if you are able to free range them all day every day. It really looks small to potentially add six more chickens. Not sure if you have any plans for that. If you allow them to free range every day the hen should be able to take care of them around the other chickens. The risk from predators while free ranging is another issue. She could probably take care of them until she weans them even if all 11 of your chickens were locked in that coop/run, though that would be tight.

My concern is more after she weans them. If they free range all day every day, the chicks will be able to take care of themselves, at least as far as the other flock members. But where will they sleep at night without the broody hen's protection? If you try locking all 11 in there after she weans them I'd have real concerns for their safety from the older flock members during the day, let alone at night as they are settling down to sleep.

You are going to have these issues whether you move her to incubate or not. I just think your coop is too small.

Hmmm... these are all good points. I guess I ordered the six eggs assuming a 50% success hatch rate, and with her being so young possibly less. The chickens have supervised free range during the day, in that they are let out of the run as long as someone is home and working outside, because there are hawks from time to time.

Maybe I should cancel my order while I still can... this is why I'm glad I posted here prior to the eggs arriving. It is such an addicting hobby but I also don't want to get overwhelmed by it. Perhaps more consideration is needed in my current set up prior to adding to the flock. Or maybe just getting a fertile egg or two from a neighbor to set under her as a fun experiment instead of spending the money on getting six mailed would be better.