hatching under mom, do I need to separate from other hen?

[guerrinagirl]

Have 9 eggs under mom, due to hatch today. There is only 1 other hen in the coop. Do I need to move her? If so, for how long? Thanks!! (so exciting!)

 

[twilight]

this is my first time hatching under mum so i can't speak from experience, but everything i have read tells you to seperate them. I'm sure everyone else will know better.

 

[cluckinchicken]

Yes, you should separate them. You can put them in a secure large dog crate if you want, so long as there is food and water available to everybody. The mom can go out to do her 'things' if she wants (you'd have to open the door of it) but she likely won't want to.
So...more poo cleaning in the box or crate but oh well...you'll have babies!

Look at my previous post of pics of my brood box with my 2 mommies and their babies.

 

[Sjisty]

I didn't separate mine. She hatched out 8 beautiful babies about two weeks ago. I put a long cage on the floor of the coop which was open on one end so she and her babies could get in the back. That has worked fine for her. The others (several hens and a couple of roos) learned real fast to leave her and her young-uns alone. Even our dog learned that lesson with a bite to her nose! Now I worry about them because she is taking them further and further out into our yard, but everybody is okay so far under the watchful eyes of our roos and dog.

 

[guerrinagirl]

Thank you everyone! This is very helpful. I'm so excited to get home and see how things are progressing!

 

[guerrinagirl]

Wait - so that means that it will be okay to move them after they hatch? I had it backwards and was going to remove the other hen by blocking off a portion of the coop (and give her a new roosting spot temporarily).

 

[Rock Wyandotte]

I had the accidental luxury of having another big coop to move the hens into when one of mine went broody, so I did. I moved them about 5 days before the hatch. It was the best for my broody hen so she didn't have to deal with anyone and could just take care of her babies, but as it turned out a few days later, whenever one of the other hens or young roos came around to investigate (they free range during the day) she gave them 'what for'. They didn't stand a snowballs chance in hell. She was fierce!
the upshot of this is; if you can, it's best, but she'll probably be ok if you can't - not as sure about the babies. 8 is a lot of babies and chickens can be awful mean to young ones.

 

[guerrinagirl]

okay . . . I really do appreciate everyone's input and experience! This is a great forum. Thanks again!