Hen house set up for hatching? Ideas comments ect appreciated!

[Jay13]

I have a hen who has decided that broody is the way to be so we are considering letting her hatch out some eggs.... I figure I will need to make her a nesting box and set up a place away from the other hens so she isn't bugged or whatever right?

My thoughts were we have a fiber glass well house cover that we no long need, if I cut an access hole in it and some extra ventilation holes at the top would that work? Is about 3.5 x 3.5 feet, figured would just put up some chicken wire to keep the other birdies out, her in ect and set up a separate water/food dish

The space I am thinking of would be in the shade which is good, but it wouldn't be "indoors." we haven't had any problems with predators and it has been so warm here that we have been leaving the coop door open at night anyway for air circulation.

Is there something I haven't thought of? Oh, the yard is fenced in, with hot wires top bottom and middle along the outside of the fence. I am guessing this is why the local predators aren't a problem thus far.

Thank you ahead of time for all the help...

And should I let her sit on some golf balls or something first so I can be sure she is *really* broody and not just lazy? I have seen her on the nest at all hours of the afternoon as long as there is an egg there, haven't checked at night to see if she sleeps on an empty nest or not though.....

I am totally new at this so am trying to *wing* it as best I can

 

[Dirt Road]

I just mark a couple of junk eggs with a permanent marker, and then check to make sure she's staying on at night. After a couple of days/nights, I move her at night leaving the throwaway eggs with her till I'm sure she's settled in the new location. Then just toss the junkers, and give her the ones you want hatched.
A little more room than 3.5x3.5 would be nice if you can arrange it, if not it will certainly work. Sounds like you've got it covered.

Jim

 

[Jay13]

The box itself is 3.5 x 3.5 she would have access to a bit of the run an additional 4x8 feet I think, but from what I have read she is unlikely to make use of it?

 

[Dirt Road]

A 4x8 space is great. Lots of folks think their broody doesn't move around at all, because they never see her off the nest. Fact is she will instinctively try to time her ventures off the nest when no one is around. The best thing you can do for her is to place her feed and water at the opposite end of the 4x8 space which will give her a bit more exercise when she comes off. Sounds to me like your hen is one of the lucky ones, has a nice place to set, with some privacy and enough room to stretch her legs. A lot of the problems people have with broodies is because they can't or wont provide those amenities. If one can't provide such a set-up, one has to make do with what is available, but to not provide it on the mistaken belief that they won't use it comes from a lack of experience. Good luck with the hatch.

Jim

 

[Jay13]

well its good to know that I have a decent set up... I am going to work on some more shade for her though, I was out today in the heat clearing the bedding off the floor of the 10x12 main coop today and it was HOT. I definitely don't want her to be in that heat without better shade... am thinking about stringing some camo netting in addition to the sheet metal shade structure that is already there.... I'm here in NC and it gets mighty warm... is there anything else you can think of that I should do to provide my gal with a more comfortable nesting spot?

 

[Dirt Road]

Only thing I can think of is to check for mites/lice. If your birds have any, which is pretty hard to avoid, treat for them as you move her.

Jim