Getting ready to set and hatch with a broody, 1st timer with questions!

[rebrascora]

I would just leave her in the open to choose where she wants to be, unless you have any particularly dominant birds that you have seen bully her in the past. Generally a broody hen will assert herself if she needs to. I used to free range my flock and never had any hens or cockerels/roosters challenge my broodies or chicks, even low ranking broodies but if the flock are penned in a small enclosure, that is when things can get a bit more aggravated. If you are able to spend time supervising their first day off the nest and monitor interaction with other hens, then I would see how it goes with her having the run of the coop. She will probably be keen to dust bath etc that sectioning off a small area usually doesn't allow.

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

I would just leave her in the open to choose where she wants to be, unless you have any particularly dominant birds that you have seen bully her in the past. Generally a broody hen will assert herself if she needs to. I used to free range my flock and never had any hens or cockerels/roosters challenge my broodies or chicks, even low ranking broodies but if the flock are penned in a small enclosure, that is when things can get a bit more aggravated. If you are able to spend time supervising their first day off the nest and monitor interaction with other hens, then I would see how it goes with her having the run of the coop. She will probably be keen to dust bath etc that sectioning off a small area usually doesn't allow.

No real dominant birds.. all my meek breeds have zero trouble telling the others to leave them alone. I have hidey-hole places for the littles (and their mama) to escape to in case there is trouble both in the run and in the coop. They are in the coop at night until I open it up in the morning. Maybe I will put the fence up so they can get some personal space if its needed. The fence has a hole plenty big for a baby and big enough for our biggest silkie to get through. This way, they can get away if needed and can be leisurely in and out when they want to.

 

[rebrascora]

Sounds good.

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Another quick question @rebrascora .. thank you for all of your help so far!

I just noticed that she poo'ed in her nest box... should I get everyone out, clean it and put everyone back in? Or assume its fine and she'll leave soon.. not sure what to do about this one...

 

[aart]

I just noticed that she poo'ed in her nest box... should I get everyone out, clean it and put everyone back in? Or assume its fine and she'll leave soon.. not sure what to do about this one...

I'd change out the nest bedding.
I had to do the same, broody used the floor nest to sleep with the chicks.

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

I'd change out the nest bedding.
I had to do the same, broody used the floor nest to sleep with the chicks.

So just put her on the floor then? And then put her back, yes?

 

[aart]

So just put her on the floor then? And then put her back, yes?

Yep. I Might put the chicks in a bucket to confine them, put mama in the floor next to bucket, then change out bedding real quick(cause mama wont be happy), put chicks back in nests..mama will follow.

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Update 2.3 ....

After our broody poo in the best box cleanup and seeing how tiny, tiny these babies are; I made a human mama’s judgement call.

I set up the wire barrier so that at least for the next few days Mama could have some blocked off space to move plus a nest box if she chose. Proper (not in an inverted lid) water and food all available. It is clear that at this point sitting on the babies to keep them warm is her priority, not the actual nest box. Babies climbed in the box to explore but she was happy on the floor.



One reason I made the move tonight is I saw one of her babies wandering away from her nest box home (in the row of boxes that we had wired off for her). I was fearful the babies might fall off and not be able to get back to her for warmth. Praying my decision was the right one.

Jade has what I think is 3 babies out of her 7 eggs hatched already. She is super stealthy at keeping them tucked away from me. She hasn’t started making the ‘here let me teach you’ talk that the Silkie mama started, so I’m hopeful she still has more that will hatch. Hoping to wake up to more sweet sounds of BABIES!

 

[aart]

Good move.....I think it's good to wait few days before exposing chicks and mama to flock. The nest can be a refuge for the chicks as mama makes her way back into the pecking order.

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

How many days past a hatch date is reasonable to expect to get more babies? I’m getting anxious!!! ..... and don’t want to turn into this before I see those little fluffy butts emerge!