- Aug 23, 2012
- 9
- 0
- 7
Hi there,
I've been reading lots of posts about hatching eggs with a broody hen. My broody is on day #14 of sitting on 7 eggs. She hasn't moved much at all and I've recently placed the water and food much closer to her. She doesn't get off the nest hardly at all from what I've seen and I haven't forced her to do so. I want to get ready for when these chicks arrive and would like any information you all may have about keeping the chicks in the coop. I'll post pictures of where I have the broody hen, so you can get an idea of what I have to deal with. Our nest boxes are elevated off the coop floor and when she decided to get broody, I moved her and her eggs to the area UNDER the nest boxes and placed some hardware cloth up so that the other hens wouldn't bother her. She probably has an area under there that's about 2ft wide and 4ft long. I have left an open area for her to get out from under there if she wants to take a walk, but I'm just not sure what the best way would be to keep the chicks in this area and still make it accessible to her without the other hens getting in. Should I just 'lock' the hen and the chicks under there for a few days after they hatch....not allowing any exit for my broody? We've on had our chickens since last August, so I'm really new at some of this stuff. I've read quite a bit lately and prefer keeping her/them in the coop with the other chickens.....BUT, I do want the chicks to be safe. So I'm looking for any helpful advice and would love to hear how others made out keeping their chicks with their flock? Thanks!! ~Amy
PS.....I have 12 Hens (2 Australorps, 2 Road Island Red, 2 Buff Orps, 2 Columbian Wyandottes, 2 Golden Buffs, 2 Plymouth Barred Rocks and a Faverolles rooster.
I've been reading lots of posts about hatching eggs with a broody hen. My broody is on day #14 of sitting on 7 eggs. She hasn't moved much at all and I've recently placed the water and food much closer to her. She doesn't get off the nest hardly at all from what I've seen and I haven't forced her to do so. I want to get ready for when these chicks arrive and would like any information you all may have about keeping the chicks in the coop. I'll post pictures of where I have the broody hen, so you can get an idea of what I have to deal with. Our nest boxes are elevated off the coop floor and when she decided to get broody, I moved her and her eggs to the area UNDER the nest boxes and placed some hardware cloth up so that the other hens wouldn't bother her. She probably has an area under there that's about 2ft wide and 4ft long. I have left an open area for her to get out from under there if she wants to take a walk, but I'm just not sure what the best way would be to keep the chicks in this area and still make it accessible to her without the other hens getting in. Should I just 'lock' the hen and the chicks under there for a few days after they hatch....not allowing any exit for my broody? We've on had our chickens since last August, so I'm really new at some of this stuff. I've read quite a bit lately and prefer keeping her/them in the coop with the other chickens.....BUT, I do want the chicks to be safe. So I'm looking for any helpful advice and would love to hear how others made out keeping their chicks with their flock? Thanks!! ~Amy
PS.....I have 12 Hens (2 Australorps, 2 Road Island Red, 2 Buff Orps, 2 Columbian Wyandottes, 2 Golden Buffs, 2 Plymouth Barred Rocks and a Faverolles rooster.
Last edited: