My first broody

[debducttape]

I just had a baby and one of my nutty chickens must've thought it looked like fun cause she went broody. Unfortunately, she is not doing very well. She's been sitting for 2 or 3 weeks now. My goofy mother in law has been stealing her eggs. I was trying to get her to set on only my standard size layer eggs, but my MIL kept removing the big eggs and putting my bantum eggs under her. (Because logically the little eggs come from the big chickens *eye roll*) I finally got my MIL to stay away from my chickens and she had been sitting for a good week on the eggs that I wanted hatched. However one broke and the other eggs got coated. I am thinking at this point I would like to just shove a few chicks under her and give her a break from sitting. I would like some experienced folks to give me tips on how to get her to accept the chicks. I am also a bit worried because my broody is at the bottom of the pecking order and will she be able to protect the chicks from the other hens/roo? Should I move them out into another area when I introduce the chicks? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[audrey02026]

If you want to give her chicks you could sneak them under her at night and take away the eggs she has now. I just did this and it worked like a charm. I felt bad as mine only hatched one chick so I gave her three more. My broody I put into an empty coop to hatch her eggs but she keeps going into the old coop with the other flock at night with her babies and no one has bothered them but I keep moving them back as I too am worried about their safety. I let them free range but only when I get home from work so they would all be cooped up together all day. I think I will let her stay this weekend and see how it works out.