Going to have babies soon

[Mamatomany123]

I had a broody start sitting around 18 days ago. She's been vigilant and has been doing great. Gets off to eat, drink, and run around clucking for a few minutes then back on the eggs. From my research all eggs look to be doing great. So my question, when she first became broody I tried to move her to a cage. She was not having it and wouldn't settle down so I let her get back in the nesting box. I've never had a broody hatch out eggs. Will she protect them from my other hens and pullets? Should I put chick starter and water in the coop with her? What else do I need to do? My hens are very gentle but I have a few adolescent pullets who are kind of in the bullying younger chicks faze nd I really don't wnt a scuffle. This broody is not the highest but maybe the 2nd highest on the pecking order. Way above the pullets.

 

[Dovethesilkie]

I separate my momma from her chicks or put a crate where only the chicks can get in in the coop

 

[Mamatomany123]

I separate my momma from her chicks or put a crate where only the chicks can get in in the coop

You take the chicks from the mom? I don't want to do that. I want her to raise them.

 

[Dovethesilkie]

If you don’t want to separate them and you are scared of others getting thrr egg m you can build a broody run

 

[Dovethesilkie]

Them not thrrr egg m

 

[Jenessa_096]

You can close off the space so that the other chickens are not climbing in there and trying to lay in there. You don’t necessarily have to take away the chicks.