Hen with a new chick

[sweetpea30]

I am new to the chicken thing lol. I love them but I need help,I have a hen that is with another and a rooster,one of my hens is trying to have a chick....do I have to separate them?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

You mean one of your hens has gone broody? (Sits on a nest spot 24x7, growls and fluffs when approached).

With only 2 other birds in the coop, as long as they are respectful of her space and careful around her, you may not have to move her at all.

If she appears disturbed by the other two, or the other hen pushes into the nest to lay, then block her off somehow or isolate her in her own little nest area with food/water and small run.

Be sure to set all the eggs you want to hatch at the same time and mark them the day you set them. If you leave her in the same coop with the other hen, you will have to remove subsequent eggs as you don't want a staggered hatch.

Be sure she has a nice deep nest that is dry, out of the weather, and out of stomping grounds. That can be a quiet corner.

On day 18, block her off so that the other two can't come near the nest. That is lock down and you don't want her disturbed as the chicks begin to hatch.

By day 2 or 3 after hatch, you can open things up more as long as the chicks can be safe in the run enclosure (not able to escape through fence lines and not vulnerable to predators).

If your rooster is a gentlemen, the integration of the new chicks will be flawless as he protects mom and babes.

It is only when you get into larger flocks, from different temperaments and a larger pecking order, or aggressive other birds, that coop brooding can become treacherous.

But if your little flock is well bonded and mellow, coop brooding can be a delight.

LofMc