Mama hen in a broody enclosure

[DaisyG2317]

Gave my broody hen 4 chicks on Friday. One didn't make it so she has 3. Mama and babies have been put in a broody enclosure inside chicken coop, see pic below. She is at bottom of pecking order and just doesn't seem like she will defend the babies from the other hens; before moving to the enclosure one of my other hens approached her and starting pecking her head like crazy and the broody did absolutely nothing about it. I have a couple q's:

1. When is it safe to let her out with babies? I just don't know if she is capable of protecting them like she should.
2 When will she stop sitting and start moving around?

 

[AfiafiAfi]

How many week old are the chicks?

 

[AfiafiAfi]

I wouldn’t suggest letting them out before 2-3 weeks as they can be smothered by bigger chicks when a week old

 

[DaisyG2317]

Bump

 

[AfiafiAfi]

I’m srry?

 

[DaisyG2317]

I'm bumping the thread to bring it to top of category.

 

[aart]

Usually it's the broody that gets attacked rather than the chicks.
She has to re-establish a place in the pecking order...it can be brutal but is usually short lived.

I had a lower ranking broody, but she became fierce after hatching.
It's hard to say how your broody will fare.
I usually release the broody and chicks about a week or so after hatch.
The chicks can shelter in the floor nest I use during the scuffles.

Hard to see how that brooder opens, more pics?
I see 2 pop doors?
Where do they go?

 

[DaisyG2317]

Usually it's the broody that gets attacked rather than the chicks.
She has to re-establish a place in the pecking order...it can be brutal but is usually short lived.

I had a lower ranking broody, but she became fierce after hatching.
It's hard to say how your broody will fare.
I usually release the broody and chicks about a week or so after hatch.
The chicks can shelter in the floor nest I use during the scuffles.

Hard to see how that brooder opens, more pics?
I see 2 pop doors?
Where do they go?

There's a hinged door on the end that is away from the pop door with provisions to make a small enough entrance for the littles to run in if trouble starts.

I was thinking a week was probably good as well. Broody is just so passive and has shown zero signs of becoming anything else.

 

[aart]

There's a hinged door on the end that is away from the pop door

Looking at the hinges, it looks like the brooder door opens right next to the bright light that I thought was a pop door.

with provisions to make a small enough entrance for the littles to run in if trouble starts.

Remember the broody needs to get back in there too.

 

[DaisyG2317]

Looking at the hinges, it looks like the brooder door opens right next to the bright light that I thought was a pop door.
View attachment 2834013



Remember the broody needs to get back in there too.

Ah yes, that's human door lol.

Should I just open brooder door and let her come out in her own time? She's been in there since....Sunday I believe. She gets up to eat and drink in there but then immediately goes back to nesting mode. Will she stop wanting to sit soon?