My first broody

[biteme2134]

Hey everyone I have a quick question... My buff went broody a few weeks ago and we were leaving on vacation the next day. So I tucked 8 or 10 Ameraucana eggs under her. She's due to hatch Tuesday!
My question is this : she's been diligent in one of my nesting boxes in sitting. I'm thinking I maybe should separate her to a different extra coop I have to keep the chicks safe from the other birds. Since hatch is around the corner should I just grab her off the nest tonight and move her over? I'm worried she may freak out or stop sitting...

 

[sourland]

At this point in the game, I would make a temporary barrier to keep the rest of the flock from her, and then move her after the hatch is complete. Good luck.

 

[song of joy]

She may stop setting if you try to move her. The greatest risk is when chicks wander out from mom during a prolonged hatch. This makes them vulnerable to attack by adult hens in the coop. For a normal hatch occurring over a period of 12 hours or so, they'd probably stay with her.

I like to isolate the mom and chicks from the rest of the flock for a couple of days so the chicks can get their feet under them, and learn to recognize that mom is their source of safety. During this period she will begin to teach them to eat and drink. It's helpful if the flock can see them, but not get to them during this time. By 4 or 5 days of age, I let the mom and chicks in with the flock. Most broody hens will be very protective of their chicks and not let any of the other hens in the flock hurt them.

If you wait until the chicks are 4+ weeks old to integrate mom and chicks back with the flock, the chicks will be more independent and much less protected by mom. This makes them more vulnerable to attack by other hens than they would be if integrated during the first week, when mom is fiercely protective of them.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

She may stop setting if you try to move her. The greatest risk is when chicks wander out from mom during a prolonged hatch....

I like to isolate the mom and chicks from the rest of the flock for a couple of days so the chicks can get their feet under them, and learn to recognize that mom is their source of safety. During this period she will begin to teach them to eat and drink. It's helpful if the flock can see them, but not get to them during this time. By 4 or 5 days of age, I let the mom and chicks in with the flock. Most broody hens will be very protective of their chicks and not let any of the other hens in the flock hurt them.... if you wait until the chicks are 4+ weeks old to integrate mom and chicks back with the flock, the chicks will be more independent and much less protected by mom..... during the first week, ....mom [will] fiercely protect.... them.

This is a good plan. Hens know how to raise chicks much better than any human... and like song of joy states momma hens will joyfully do all of there babies' heavy fighting for them. It seems to me like hens with chicks enjoy especially high status in the pecking order. One danger is that before the chicks are 4 or 5 days old and their bodies harden up a bit, that the chicks are vulnerable to collateral damage when their own momma tears into a hen who threatens or disrespects the momma hens' chicks.

 

[biteme2134]

Thank for the advice! I have four nesting boxes in a row and she's on one on the end of the row. But it's inside the coop with all the roosts right there. I'm not sure how I'd isolate them. Maybe some plywood? Wouldn't be too sturdy tho