Got my first broody!!!!

[jettgirl24]

Of course, just as I decide I'm really happy with the flocks I have and I don't really want any more LOL

So I believe this little lady started sitting on Sunday evening. I've been really busy this week with my new job and the horses so I've been leaving SUPER early and getting home on the late side. My boyfriend has been feeding in the morning for me and this little lady usually lays in the evening so I didn't realize she hadn't been off the nest until this morning when I found her in the exact same spot she was in last night when I tucked them in... And boy oh boy, is she in a foul broody mood

This batch of babies will be a very interesting group of mutts. Daddy is a blue-barred sexlink roo and the potential mommas are a mixed bunch - broody is a black sexlink and in the same pen are a BO, two BRs, an Americauna/Wyandotte cross, and a Faverolle

To make matters even more interesting - the girls have also been intermingling with my BO/Marans roo and my Wyandotte roo out in the garden for the last few weeks so I suppose they could be potential daddies too. Too bad there isn't a chicken version of the Maury show, my cluckers would be shoe-ins as guests!

I was definitely not planning to hatch anything from my random assortment but since she's been on them for a few days and we have the space I'm just gonna let her roll with it. Very curious to see what the results of this crazy genetic experiment are.

I was in a hurry this morning and the other hens seem to be leaving her alone so I didn't move her, just put a waterer and some food as close to her as possible. What should I do with her tonight though? I know I need to separate her from the flock. I can either move her into the horse barn and put her in the chicken hutch that my Marans use for laying. It's probably 24" x 36". Or I can move her into my large dog kennel and fence her off a little pen in my Silkie stall. Am I correct to assume that she really won't need much space outside of the hutch or crate while she's sitting since she won't be up much? Do I even need to fence off a little run space for her or can I wait until the babies hatch? Any other tips for caring for a first time broody?

 

[HEChicken]

Its always the way, isn't it? I've been wanting another of my hens to go broody all year and one of them finally did - two weeks before we make a big move. So she's sitting on eggs and will stay here after we move and I'll move her and any chicks that hatch after the hatch is over.

Moving her to her own separate area is definitely a good idea, and you are correct that she doesn't need a lot of space. It isn't a bad idea to give her some run space so that after the chicks hatch, they have a place they can be safe from the rest of the flock.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Less is more with a broody. If not being bothered leave her where she is. Sometimes other hens still want to lay in that nest, f you can provide a barrier and a nest near there(put an egg n it to make it more attractive to others) broodies have GPS nd want to return to their spot. But remember if you barrcade her in she needs to get off the nest to evacuate,eat and drink and take a bath. Best to be prepared, if yu can section off a small part of the coop for after the hatch, after 3 days of hatching she will be ready to move to a new spot. Is she on the ground already? It's the best place in a quiet littlecorner, in or 3 days she'll prob want t take them around a little.
Alot depend on how many other chickens you have an how much space.you have time.