First time with broody hen

[KM2H]

Hi all! First time dealing with a broody hen, chicks are due to hatch tomorrow the 8th and the 9th. My nesting boxes are not in the coop, we moved them to a bunny enclosure closer to the house in order to have two roost ladders in the coop when I integrated a large number of adult hens to my original flock a few months back.
The broody hen chose a nest on the top section of the nesting boxes. (I tried several times to put the hen and the eggs in a cage in the coop to no avail)
The area in which she is in now was a bunny enclosure the previous resident of our property had. My husband and I covered the openings on the top near the roof with hardware cloth to keep the hen safe during her lonely nights on the nest.
The only things that can get in there now are snakes, since the bottom portion of the enclosure has whatever wire is used for it.
I'm thinking of putting a pack and play inside that area to maybe put the hen and chicks in a more secure space for at least the first days of their life. My husband hates the pack and play idea and wants to build something like a brooder for this kind of situation.
While we build something more permanent. Should I move the hen and her about to hatch eggs to the pack and play, or wait until chicks have hatch?
Can you show me your outdoor brooder set ups for inspiration? Lastly, when do I start feeding the hen starter chick food?
Thank you all in advance.

 

[sourland]

It sounds as if you tried to move this hen during the incubation, and that did not work. I would not move her until the chicks hatch.

 

[KM2H]

It sounds as if you tried to move this hen during the incubation, and that did not work. I would not move her until the chicks hatch.

I moved her during the first 3 days she was showing strong signs of broodiness. Each those days I picked up the eggs, until at day 3 seeing that she would continue to go back to the same nesting box I decided to let have fresh eggs from the day in question.
After that I was able to move her in two occasions from box to box, once because she was on the outer edge of the boxes and was running the risk of getting wet during the rainy days, the second and last move was when I noticed the nesting box was collapsing at the bottom, on that day we discovered a cracked egg with remains of a tiny chick.
It seems to be a problem when I put her in a small enclosure like the one pictured.

 

[Yardmom]

The hen could have started on chick food at any time. The chicks will start to peck at it day one, but don't "need" it for 3 days. Most put food out so they can access it if they want. I would wait until all the chicks are hatched to move her. I often move my broodies in the beginning with success, but why risk it at the final stage? Where are you planning on putting the pack and play or brooder? Back to the coop?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I would not use a pack and play. They are too inconvenient for what you need. Not predator proof either.

Most of us that let a hen hatch with the flock hatch in the coop. You are not so it will be a bit different. Do you consider that run predator proof at night? It looks like you free range during the day so a predator could come in through the open gate then. Not criticizing, lots of us do that.

If you were in the coop I'd pretty much say do nothing but trust your broody hen. But they will be out where rain could get to them. I'd suggest building a shelter for nighttime if you don't have something you can use, mainly for rain protection. I happened to have an old chicken tractor no longer used that was 4' x 8' (1.2m x 2.4m) that had one end covered with plywood and the other end covered with hardware cloth which worked great for this. You don't need anything nearly that big but you'll have to train your broody hen to use that.

There are different ways I see you could go. One is to build a rain-proof nest on the ground or a couple of inches above ground level in case water runs in there during a rain. Have a door you can lock. You could lock her and the chicks in that nest every night until she learns to use it. Should not take long.

If you still have that enclosure (looks like a dog cage) you could put that nest in there and just lock the hen and chicks in that cage for three days, feeding and watering in there. After two nights sleeping in there the hen should take her chicks back there to sleep each night. She may not use that nest initially but she probably will since it is sheltered and dark. Just leave the nest door open and don't use a nest door. Again, trust your broody, she will manage. The holes on that cage are too big, the chicks can walk right through them. You should cover the bottom foot or so of the sides with hardware cloth so the chicks can't escape Mama's protection. You can use cloth or plastic netting but I've had chicks get tangled up in it. This is basically the way I do it and I think it is fairly easy for you.

Another option would be to put the hen and chicks in the coop each night until she learns to take them back into there. I'm not sure how big that coop is or how easy it would be for the chicks to use the pop door. The coop looks ground level, which would be good. The hen does not need any kind of a nest, they will sleep on the coop floor until she leads them to the roosts. One benefit of this method is that the chicks will grow up sleeping in the coop, you won't have to train them later.

Another option is to do nothing and see what the hen does. Growing up on the farm many decades ago broody hens would hide a nest and take care of the chicks from there, not always in a coop or shelter at night. Predators were a risk but weren't much of a problem though they could hit at any time. Even in the rain she managed. My personal preference is to provide predator protection and shelter from the rain. Before they were domesticated hens hatched chicks and raised them with no help from humans and they didn't go extinct. But I want to do more than that.

I agree with Sourland, I would not move them until after the hatch. My hens hatch in nests 2' or 4' (60 to 120 cms) above the coop floor. They have no trouble getting the chicks to the coop floor when the broody decides to bring them down. I'd leave them where they are until she brings them off the nest. Then decide what you want to do with them.

The chicks will eat whatever feed you are giving to the rest of the flock if they can get to it at all. Even if your feeders are elevated the hen will scoop feed out for them. By the time they are 2 weeks old my chicks are flying up to my elevated feeders to eat directly. Many of us do not feed Layer with its high calcium content but feed Starter, All Flock, Flock Raiser, or some similar to the entire flock when we have young chicks in the flock, with oyster shells on the side for the hens that need the calcium for their eggs.

When I have a hen hatching I put food and water at ground level where the chicks can get to it. The hen takes her chicks there when she brings them off of the nest. Some people put food or water in or near the nest but I don't find that necessary. I don't want to take the chance of the water getting the nest wet or the food getting spilled and attracting vermin. But many people manage that.

I see you are free ranging. I'd leave that gate open for the broody hen to take her chicks out whenever she wants to. That's what mine do. But be down there as it starts getting dark to make sure they get back inside OK. Sometimes when chickens are let out the first time they can get trapped on the wrong side of the fence and totally forget about that gate they have been using all day. You may have to help them through the gate the first night or two. The broody hen will get back but sometimes the chicks don't follow her through the gate and turn back on the wrong side of the fence.

With your nest outside like that my main concern is what happens when it rains at night. Those hens on the farm where I grew up had a lot of options of where to take their chicks. Inside your run options are limited.

Good luck!

 

[KRack]

I agree, I wouldn’t try to move her again until the eggs have hatched. I tried to move my broody before the egg hatched and she did the same as yours, went back to the other nest. Once the chick hatched, I moved her and baby chick to their own little coop. She’s stayed in there with the chick ever since. Could you add hardwire mesh to the places you think snakes can get in?

Sorry if this has been answered, I skimmed the thread hurrying out the door.

 

[KM2H]

The hen could have started on chick food at any time. The chicks will start to peck at it day one, but don't "need" it for 3 days. Most put food out so they can access it if they want. I would wait until all the chicks are hatched to move her. I often move my broodies in the beginning with success, but why risk it at the final stage? Where are you planning on putting the pack and play or brooder? Back to the coop?

I was planning to leave the pack and play in the same area she is at right now. My final objective is for the hen to free range with the chicks, teach them.the ways and introduce them to the flock. I just don't know if there is intervention that needs to take place from my part.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I was planning to leave the pack and play in the same area she is at right now. My final objective is for the hen to free range with the chicks, teach them.the ways and introduce them to the flock. I just don't know if there is intervention that needs to take place from my part.

I'll provide a short answer to that. I do not intervene because I never see any reason to intervene. If I saw a reason to intervene I would.

 

[KM2H]

I'll provide a short answer to that. I do not intervene because I never see any reason to intervene. If I saw a reason to intervene I would.

Thank you! It is my first time with a broody hen and I see so many people doing so much for their chickens it makes me feel like I'm not doing enough

 

[Ridgerunner]

Some people do a lot with broody hens. Depending on what their facilities look like some is necessary. The chicks may not be able to get through pop doors or up to elevated coops. If room inside the coop or inside the run is really tight that can make it harder. Some people just can't keep their hands off even if they don't need to do anything. Some people read on here that they have to do something when they don't really. We keep them in all sorts of different ways, what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another. What is necessary for one person is not necessary for another. If you were using one of those tiny elevated coops with a ramp or had a small run my suggestions would have been different.

But you have a lot of room, they even free range. I don't see where you should have any serious issues. You still need to watch and base what you do on what you see but I think you'll be OK.