Introducing new chickens with a broody hen

[Knittinchickn]

Just as I am getting ready to introduce our 10 week old pullets to the rest of the flock, one of my year old hens has gone broody. Can I safely continue with the introduction or do I need to break her broodiness first?

 

[Den in Penn]

Interesting. There are many possible answers to that. Me I would just introduce the ten week olds and let the hen brood, if I had the room for more. But that is my setup. A lot will depends on yours. How many chickens do you have? How much room?

 

[Knittinchickn]

We have three 1-year old hens and seven "new" chickens (5 pullets and 2 probable cockerels) that are about 10 weeks old. We've had the new chickens since they were a day or two old and we are just now ready to put them out with the other three. They have been spending time in a coop within the run, but the broody hen hasn't really seen them because she is in a nesting box. Our coop really isn't big enough for more chickens so I need to break the broodiness at some point. I'm just wondering if I should do it now or after the new chickens have been introduced.

 

[Den in Penn]

Better to break her now. Since she only hangs in the nest she isn't going to interact with the new ones until she is broken. Also breaking her now would benefit her health, rather then letting her sit longer and weaken.

 

[Knittinchickn]

That's what I thought. I will work on that tomorrow. Thank you!