How to separate a broody, but still allow her to socialize?

[temple1612]

I am searching for ideas on how to separate a broody, but still allow her to leave when she needs to. I know with a standard broody box she is stuck in there for for full incubation time. However, my broodies tend to want to socialize and dust bathe when they leave the nest and I don't want to force them into confinement. Today, my broody hen actually spent 25+ minutes trying to get our of her make shift brooder and I felt bad, but I also don't want the other hens to be able to get into the nest either.

Are their any options?

 

[rIrs roost]

I am searching for ideas on how to separate a broody, but still allow her to leave when she needs to. I know with a standard broody box she is stuck in there for for full incubation time. However, my broodies tend to want to socialize and dust bathe when they leave the nest and I don't want to force them into confinement. Today, my broody hen actually spent 25+ minutes trying to get our of her make shift brooder and I felt bad, but I also don't want the other hens to be able to get into the nest either.

Are their any options?

Honestly in my experience my broodies didn't want to socialize. They got up once a day for just a few minutes to eat and drink a little and right back to the nest. How old are they? What signs are they showing that they are broody?

 

[temple1612]

She is definitely broody, and her sister was broody about 2 months ago and hatched eggs and was the same way. For the 1st week they get off during the hottest part of the day for about 2 hours. They socialize with the other hens, take a dust bath, and eat and poop. After a week it goes down to about an hour and then the last week it gets less and less. She is sitting on 12 eggs right now and has been sitting for the past 3 days. I have no doubt she is broody.

 

[rIrs roost]

She is definitely broody, and her sister was broody about 2 months ago and hatched eggs and was the same way. For the 1st week they get off during the hottest part of the day for about 2 hours. They socialize with the other hens, take a dust bath, and eat and poop. After a week it goes down to about an hour and then the last week it gets less and less. She is sitting on 12 eggs right now and has been sitting for the past 3 days. I have no doubt she is broody.

oh ok. I was just asking because I had a young one that acted like she wanted to but didn't take it serious enough. I've only had about 8 broodies in my 3 years with chickens. It's been in the mid to upper 90's here and I'm worried that my broodies aren't getting up for water enough. Hmmmm. I'm not sure how you could keep the others out of her box but let her go out as she pleases. Maybe someone else has some ideas.?

 

[chickens really]

I would just leave her in her brooder with food and water....Its really not a big deal....Once the Chicks hatch and are a week old you can let them out with the flock...My Hen is setting her third hatch since December...She is fine in my garage brooder and loves the privacy....Due on the 14th.....