How do I do this ?

[J99]

Ok this was my idea
My hen has gone broody it’s a good time so I want to put eggs under her tomorrow
That I mark with a marker , but then the next day I gather all the eggs except the marked ones , now my hen boxes are off the ground . Should I move her to a cage of her own to sit on them
For the 21 days ? But if I do that then I won’t be able to bring them back into my flock

I want the hen to raise the babies with the flock as they would in the wild
How do I do that?

 

[MGG]

@aart ?

 

[aart]

Lots of different ways to manage a broody.
Here's a bunch of info, it's a long one but just start reading the first few pages, then browse thru some more at random. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/broody-hen-thread.496101/

I have a place in my coop separated by a wire wall.
When I have a broody I wait until she's been in the nest most the day and all night for 2-3 days...along with those other signs I posted.

Then I put her in the broody enclosure with fake eggs in the floor nest, she won't like being moved, but if she is truly good and broody she will settle onto the new nest within a half a day.
Then I give her fresh fertile eggs and mark the calendar.

I like them separated by wire from the flock, it's just easier all around.
No having to mark eggs and remove any additions daily, no taking up a laying nest, no going back to the wrong nest after the daily constitutional.

 

[J99]

Ok I’ll read that , she’s definitely broody and I can’t do the netting separation thing at this time , my babies are using that for integration and they are not ready yet
What’s the fears of just leaving her be?

 

[aart]

Ok I’ll read that , she’s definitely broody and I can’t do the netting separation thing at this time , my babies are using that for integration and they are not ready yet
What’s the fears of just leaving her be?

Since you already have chicks, probably best not to let her hatch?


If you don't want her to hatch out chicks, IMO it's best to break her broodiness promptly.

My experience goes about like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest (or as soon as I know they are broody), I put her in a wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop or run with feed and water.

I used to let them out a couple times a day, but now just once a day in the evening(you don't have to) and she would go out into the run, drop a huge turd, race around running, take a vigorous dust bath then head back to the nest... at which point I put her back in the crate. Each time her outings would lengthen a bit, eating, drinking and scratching more and on the 3rd afternoon she stayed out of the nest and went to roost that evening...event over, back to normal tho she didn't lay for another week or two. Or take her out of crate daily very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate.

Tho not necessary a chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor after pic was taken.

 

[J99]

I want her to hatch

 

[J99]

The question is now
Do I move her to get food and water daily ? So she’ll poop etc? Or just leave her be and put food and water right beside her?

 

[J99]

No one has the answer to that? I’ve watched YouTube videos and looked things up but different people say different things and say some hens have sat there and starved to death
So if I put her to food and water once a day , Is there a certain day I should stop touching her ?

 

[mix-of-chix]

it sounds like you left her with the other chickens instead of separating her right? my broody hen leaves on her own and is back on the nest within the same hour. Some days I see her out, some days I don't but it doesn't mean she didn't go out. Her eggs just started hatching tonight. Just make sure your hen still has access to food and water. the broody will figure it out.

 

[J99]

it sounds like you left her with the other chickens instead of separating her right? my broody hen leaves on her own and is back on the nest within the same hour. Some days I see her out, some days I don't but it doesn't mean she didn't go out. Her eggs just started hatching tonight. Just make sure your hen still has access to food and water. the broody will figure it out.

Ok thank you so much , I wasn’t sure because when I do put her to the food she will eat like she’s starving to death then drink forever then run around fast then go back
I wasn’t sure if she’d sit there and just starve herself