Hi I'm hoping someone can give me some advice.
I got my chickens (7 hens) last Sept, one (Feather Face) went broody in early Jan after a 2 day mild spell, and I broke her of that by 4 days in a broody buster box. Well, in Feb I got a rooster and he met the hens last week, suddendly, FF is broody again today. I want to encourage her this time, but the nest box is high and unsuitable for chicks. I have an animal crate (like the type to ship cats on a plane) I would like her to use that to brood in. Shall I transfer her now into that crate, or should I slip the fertilised eggs under her, hope she goes the distance, and then put her in the crate with eggs on day 21?
How shall I manage this? My set up - hens and rooster share a coop, and free range, and I have an extra very large coop not being used that shares a wire wall with main coop. So I have a bit of space to separate her in her own pen, if that is something I should consider? or keep the pen inside the main coop- or use the cat crate.
Any ideas on the best way to achieve a happy broody hen in a safe environment would be amazing.
All ideas welcome.
Thanks!!
I got my chickens (7 hens) last Sept, one (Feather Face) went broody in early Jan after a 2 day mild spell, and I broke her of that by 4 days in a broody buster box. Well, in Feb I got a rooster and he met the hens last week, suddendly, FF is broody again today. I want to encourage her this time, but the nest box is high and unsuitable for chicks. I have an animal crate (like the type to ship cats on a plane) I would like her to use that to brood in. Shall I transfer her now into that crate, or should I slip the fertilised eggs under her, hope she goes the distance, and then put her in the crate with eggs on day 21?
How shall I manage this? My set up - hens and rooster share a coop, and free range, and I have an extra very large coop not being used that shares a wire wall with main coop. So I have a bit of space to separate her in her own pen, if that is something I should consider? or keep the pen inside the main coop- or use the cat crate.
Any ideas on the best way to achieve a happy broody hen in a safe environment would be amazing.
All ideas welcome.
Thanks!!
Last edited: