First time setting eggs with broody australorp

[MikeG]

Novice backyarder here. One of my three Australorps is very broody. I was able to get 12 fertile eggs this afternoon and was planning to place them this evening. Problem is I only have two nestboxes in the coop-one which she's been occupying for the past several days. I've read through past posts and some links and understand its not ideal to let her set in 'general population.' Its her environment and I'm not sure what/how/where to mover her. The coop is relatively small and other than roost and nestbox spaces, there isn't much room to isolate her.

Should I set up a small box in a wire dog crate and move her outta there this evening to set on the eggs in isolation with food & water?

Should I have a go in the coop in 'her' designated nest box?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[goldnchocolate]

Hi MikeG

I had a RIR go broody last year and I put some eggs under her to see what would happen. I separated her from the main part of the coop by using a plastic dog crate (see pic). I actually had to close her in to keep her from getting out, when I first put her in there, but then she was all set.

I would take her out every night and put her near the food and water. She would eat, drink and do a mega poop and then go back to her nest. I marked her eggs so that I could remove any eggs that weren't hers. I would do this while she was eating. I didn't need to block the whole thing off until the chicks were hatched--to keep the other hens from hurting them. After a few days I made her a small pen within the coop to keep her and her chicks separate, yet together, with the other chickens. Good luck with your hen. You will be hooked when you see those little faces peeking out at you from beneath the hen.

 

[MikeG]

Thank you so much Cathy.


I have an extra large wire dog crate and pulled the floor out so it sits on the grass in the backyard. I taped up a large box, cut a hole in it, and filled it with shavings. I moved Ms. Broody (Terri-Yaki) into the crate yesterday evening and she immediately went to the nestbox. I tried to introduce the eggs while she was in there but she left the box. I went ahead and placed all 12 in there to see what she would do, locked the gate, and headed inside. I came back out in 10 minutes and she was setting and 'in the zone.' I checked on her several times last nite and this morning and she was still setting on them. Hopefully she'll stick with it.

The cage is 3x4 and has no bottom. I put food and water in the cage as well. There's ample room to stretch, eat, and poop. Do you think I should still let her range in the yard or just monitor food/water and move the cage around to fresh 'pasture?'


Thanks again for your help and the picture!