NEED A SMALL COOP THING FOR MY BROODY HEN!!

[bufforphington]

Hi! y'all. i just had some questions, i have a broody hen, so we put her in a small dog pen in the chicken area (with some fertile eggs) but just last night my dog started barking like crazy, so my dad went out there and there was a racoon on the fence! so me and my dad are trying to find a good place to put our broody hen. any answers?
thanks!

 

[mstricer]

Good for your dog. Nothing like a dog that does its job. My dogs just sleep all night then bark all day at the neighbors they have seen for the past 6 years. Back to your question....Will your dog kennel fit in the coop. I usually just leave my girls in in the coop, in the nesting boxes.

 

[bufforphington]

um, i dont think so, and why moved it was because other hens kept on laying in her nesting box

 

[heatherscreations1969]

Can you move her back to the coop but block the opening of the nest box with something?
I have a broody in the main coop and have put a large serving tray in front of the opening for the nest box so the other hen's do not disturb her......I move it for half an hour in a morning so she can come out and eat, drink and poop and when she goes back to the eggs I put the tray back.

*hugs* Heather x

 

[srd5757]

What about in the run? Is the run predator proof?
I actually have our broody in a wire dog crate now. Inside she's in a nest box I made out of a milk crate on it's side, fit into a cardboard box that comes half way up the nest box and I cut an entrance side down. But because of the nest box there is no way a coon could get ahold of her.

 

[bufforphington]

i think moving her again would be to much stress for her and me. but i do like the idea.

 

[triplepurpose]

When I want a broody to set I staple up a piece of four foot wide chicken wire around the end nest box and the corner of the coop to make a little enclosure for her in which I leave out a tray of food and a waterer. It takes me like 5 minutes to set up and has worked great 3 times now (I even use the same old piece of chix wire every time). When it's all done I pull out the chicken wire. The hens don't mind being moved to the end box in the row because they are accustomed to all those nests already and always settle right in on the eggs within seconds.

 

[LakeBird]

When I want a broody to set I staple up a piece of four foot wide chicken wire around the end nest box and the corner of the coop to make a little enclosure for her in which I leave out a tray of food and a waterer. It takes me like 5 minutes to set up and has worked great 3 times now (I even use the same old piece of chix wire every time). When it's all done I pull out the chicken wire. The hens don't mind being moved to the end box in the row because they are accustomed to all those nests already and always settle right in on the eggs within seconds.

Sky can you post a picture of your set up?

 

[triplepurpose]

Sky can you post a picture of your set up?

Sorry for the delay. Here you go:


Like I wrote, supper basic, I threw something like it together on the spur of the moment a few years ago the first time I wanted to hatch, but I found it so convenient I've done it the same way ever since. Note that the chicken wire isn't stapled at the top on the right side--it's just hooked over a nail so that you can unhook it to step through.

The Light Brahma in the nest is approaching her third week now. Occasionally when I see her off the nest during the day I reach in and lift her out and let her run around for a little while before I put her back (she's extremely tame).

 

[NovaAman]

I pretty much do the same, ONLY, I don't do it until a few days before hatching. I mark the eggs that are being set on the end, and then I take out any new eggs daily. About day 18, I will staple in chicken wire, or move the hen to a broody coop/area. That is easily accomplished with a few 2x4s, a sheet of cheap plywood, cut into 2x4 sections... AND a garage wall... LOL. I use a small area in my garage, build a makeshift broody area that is wide enough for the hen to be comfortable in for a few weeks, about 2, and some chicken wire to cover the top, just to keep the other birds out.

A brooder box can be built for less than you'd think. A few 2x2x8, enough to build a box frame, a sheet and 1/2 of cheap roofing or floor ply, some hardware cloth, and 2- 2x4x8 to cut into legs to hold the box up off of the ground. Screws and 2 hinges for a door and a lock... All in all, you will be looking at about 20-30 bucks if you shop right, and if you have a habitat for humanity store near you. About 30-40 if you have to buy everything new. So, basically a box on legs. I do my brooder box 2 feet tall, 2 feet wide, and 2 feet long. This provides 8 square feet of space. I usually keep a new mom and chicks in the garage for while if its winter time, (yes, mine go broody in the winter!) but at this time of year, when its warm, I leave them outside in the covered run to protect the wood on the brooder box. You could seal and paint it also if you don't have a run, and then place it up against your coop. OR even in the coop if your coop is a shed type and you have room. The broody box can then double as a chicken hospital, or quarantine area in the case that you get some new chicks and need to have them separated for a while.

Well anyway... Just be sure the coons can not access it.