First time Momma Banty and dominant hen...

[HizzleHen]

Hi, I'm new to the site. I have 3 hens who are a year old, Rhode Island Red, Americauna, Bantam. The Banty has been broody twice in the last year. We got 3 fertilized eggs for her to sit on and set her up in the "unpopular" nesting box. The dominant Red hen is now laying in Banty's nest box. Should I prepare for more trouble from Red?

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Yes, If you have a dominate hen who is going to bother the broody, I would completely separate the broody, too great a chance at broken eggs or the broody being chased off the nest etc if you leave them together. Here is a nice article from the Learning Center on broody hens https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/broody-hens

 

[Loc20chick]

good advice above.

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Kelsie X2 I would make sure the broody has a separate spot to set on her eggs. You can section off a corner as well just for her. Make sure to keep food and water nearby for the broody so she doesn't have far to go to get enough to eat and drink.

Good luck and I hope you get some spring chicks soon!

 

[HizzleHen]

Thanks for all the replies! I do have food and water for her, I think I'll cordon off the corner today. If that doesn't do it, she's moving out of the house altogether.

 

[gander007]

 

[Duckopolis]

Good luck with your poultry raising adventures,and I hope you find everything you need to know. Don't forget to take a look at BYC's very useful learning center (If you haven't already)! The learning center as well as the forum should answer your questions! Glad to have you here! See you around the forum. Have you tried to isolate her?

 

[HizzleHen]

[COLOR=333333]Good luck with your poultry raising adventures,and I hope you find everything you need to know.  Don't forget to take a look at BYC's very useful learning center (If you haven't already)!  The learning center as well as the forum should answer your questions!  Glad to have you here!  See you around the forum.  Have you tried to isolate her?[/COLOR]

 

[HizzleHen]

I have not, I don't have a place to isolate in the coop or yard. Should I consider elsewhere, such as indoors?

 

[TwoCrows]

I have not, I don't have a place to isolate in the coop or yard. Should I consider elsewhere, such as indoors?

Can you make a little fence around her at the nest boxes so she stays by herself? You can also go to a box store or even walmart and pic up a big cardboard box. Something like a 18x16x16 . I do this all the time, and keep extra boxes on hand in case I have too many broodies hogging up the boxes. You can make a temporary box in the coop for her, section it off so she has her own space. It doesn't have to be pretty, as long as she can sit in peace in her corner by herself. Keep food and water there for her as well.

If you need any help with this, let me know. I make these boxes all the time. Unfortunately I don't have any pic, but soon I am sure I will have nest boxes full of broodies and have to set one of these up. I will then get pics.