How Big for a Maternity Ward?

[3KillerBs]

I've got two broodies in my nests. I'm thinking that I'll break the 7-month-pullet for the sake of her health and growth but let the mature hen raise a brood.

That means making a maternity ward inside my coop. What would be a good size? My first thought is 2x4. Is that too much? Should it be bigger?

 

[Auntiejessi3]

 

[SueT]

How many chicks will there be? I think 2X4 sounds great, that’s what I have used within the coop for 3 to 6 babies. My maternity ward also has a pop door to an outdoor part of the run, also divided from the others, but within sight of. Mama has taken the babies out by day 3.
I installed a poop board in the coop, and the space under became the separated apartment. There’s about 2’ of height under it. I have little fence panels to close it off when needed. You can see the door in this pic.

 

[3KillerBs]

How many chicks will there be? I think 2X4 sounds great, that’s what I have used within the coop for 3 to 6 babies. My maternity ward also has a pop door to an outdoor part of the run, also divided from the others, but within sight of. Mama has taken the babies out by day 3.
I installed a poop board in the coop, and the space under became the separated apartment. There’s about 2’ of height under it. I have little fence panels to close it off when needed. You can see the door in this pic.
View attachment 3093090

I don't know yet how many eggs I want to give her. 6-8, maybe? Maybe up to 10?

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

If your coop is roomy, I wouldn’t bother making a separate area. As long as she has chosen a safe nest site she can continue to use it at night and take her chicks out with the flock during the day. Mine stick to the coop for a few days while the chicks are tiny and then gradually expand how far she takes them out.

Here are two broodies sitting on eggs, there is another nest box to the left that my mama hen with chicks uses at night, and more nest boxes on top for the active layers.

 

[3KillerBs]

If your coop is roomy, I wouldn’t bother making a separate area. As long as she has chosen a safe nest site she can continue to use it at night and take her chicks out with the flock during the day. Mine stick to the coop for a few days while the chicks are tiny and then gradually expand how far she takes them out.

Here are two broodies sitting on eggs, there is another nest box to the left that my mama hen with chicks uses at night, and more nest boxes on top for the active layers.View attachment 3093326

No, it would be quite inappropriate to have her sitting in the nests. My nests are not in any way conducive for the safe incubation and rearing of chicks.

 

[K0k0shka]

Other than brood size, the next relevant question is how long you plan to keep them in the maternity ward. Just a few days until she takes them out of the nest to meet the flock, or longer? The longer you want to keep them there, the larger the space would need to be. But if it's just for the first couple of fragile days, then it doesn't have to be very big, and the 2x4 would be sufficient.

 

[DramaBrahmaMama]

I have Brahmas and Barred Rocks, so when we built the coop, I made 2 of the boxes larger to double as an ER or brooder if need be. We did each as 2x2, and the divider in between is removeable. I have them closed off till I need them.

 

[3KillerBs]

Other than brood size, the next relevant question is how long you plan to keep them in the maternity ward. Just a few days until she takes them out of the nest to meet the flock, or longer? The longer you want to keep them there, the larger the space would need to be. But if it's just for the first couple of fragile days, then it doesn't have to be very big, and the 2x4 would be sufficient.

I'd only have her closed off for a few days after hatch.

I just need a space where I can keep her on a ground nest instead of the regular boxes and keep the other girls from laying eggs in her nest while she's incubating.

 

[samanthaoverton]

I like the curtains nice touch. Later today in the chicken decor show..how to make curtains

If your coop is roomy, I wouldn’t bother making a separate area. As long as she has chosen a safe nest site she can continue to use it at night and take her chicks out with the flock during the day. Mine stick to the coop for a few days while the chicks are tiny and then gradually expand how far she takes them out.

Here are two broodies sitting on eggs, there is another nest box to the left that my mama hen with chicks uses at night, and more nest boxes on top for the active layers.View attachment 3093326