I have a Broody Hen!

[saltandpepper2]

Hey! I haven't been on this website for so long. Now I have the first broody hen of my flock! She is a Black copper Marans, and has 6 eggs under her now! I just have a few questions.

1: Should I move her out of the coop? Right now, she's really mean, so everyone's leaving her alone.
2: Do I need to give her her own feeder, and waterer?
3: should I move her out after the chicks hatch?
4: out of six eggs, if she's a good mom, how many eggs could hatch? Thanks!

 

[Mountain Peeps]

1: Should I move her out of the coop? She can go in a dog crate or some sort of inclosure but make sure it's within the coop so she is not taken as a new chicken once she is done with her broodiness.

2: Do I need to give her her own feeder, and waterer? Yes. Also, once the chicks hatch, make sure to feed her to the chick feed because layer feed damages chicks' kidneys.

3: should I move her out after the chicks hatch? Leave her in with the chicks for about a week so they can really focus on bonding. (And so that the chicks don't get bullied and killed by the rest of the flock!)

4: out of six eggs, if she's a good mom, how many eggs could hatch? All of them have the potential to hatch if they are fertile. But, there are those who don't make it. So, always plan on one or two less to hatch then how many eggs you put under her.

 

[saltandpepper2]

Ok, I have a problem now, every time the hen goes off the nest, another hen lays an egg in her nest! How do I stop this? I can't put a dog crate in the coop, since it's a coop on stilts ( can't walk in it) Should I move her to the basement, keep her in a seperate coop ( I have 3) or section off a bit of coop she's in now with chicken wire?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Ok, I have a problem now, every time the hen goes off the nest, another hen lays an egg in her nest! How do I stop this? I can't put a dog crate in the coop, since it's a coop on stilts ( can't walk in it) Should I move her to the basement, keep her in a seperate coop ( I have 3) or section off a bit of coop she's in now with chicken wire?

I would section off a part of the coop with chicken wire. Make sure it contains food and water and of course, a nest box!!

 

[saltandpepper2]

I would section off a part of the coop with chicken wire. Make sure it contains food and water and of course, a nest box!!

Ok, I'm going to section it off this weekend. Thanks!