Preparing for Broody Hen to Hatch-questions

[preppingmom]

We are first time chicken owners as of last fall. We decided to let our broody hen try to hatch chicks and she is sitting on 5 eggs. I have not candled or done anything except mark them. She should be having some of them hatch within the week. We have a coop with raised nesting boxes, about 2 feet off the ground. We also have a caged area outside of the coop that is roughly 6 feet by 4 feet, then the chickens free range during the day.

Should I be moving the hen and her chicks to their own space after they hatch to be safe from predators and in a location that is not off the ground? Does that mean a small coop with fenced area? I have 2 cats that are wary of the grown chickens but look at chicks like they are the next meal. There are plenty of other predators around too- at least for chicks. This broody hen is the probably one of the top hens in the pecking order and plenty assertive, but I want to set things up in the best way possible.

I would love advice and to hear about your experiences.

Thanks!

 

[All4Eggz]

Should I be moving the hen and her chicks to their own space after they hatch to be safe from predators and in a location that is not off the ground? Does that mean a small coop with fenced area? I have 2 cats that are wary of the grown chickens but look at chicks like they are the next meal. There are plenty of other predators around too- at least for chicks. This broody hen is the probably one of the top hens in the pecking order and plenty assertive, but I want to set things up in the best way possible.

I would recommend putting her in a separate, secure coop & run until the chicks are a couple weeks old. Then you can move them in with the main flock, unless you are still worried that the cats could get to them.

 

[Ridgerunner]

She should be having some of them hatch within the week.

Does this mean you have one of those staggered hatches where the eggs did not all start incubation at the same time? If so, we probably need to talk.

We have a coop with raised nesting boxes, about 2 feet off the ground.

My hens hatch in nests that are 2' or 4' off of the coop floor. When the hen is ready to bring them off of the nest they hop down, bounce up, and run to her. They never go back to the nest, she takes them to sleep on the coop floor. If you have a nest in the floor she might or might not use it, I leave that decision up to her.

Should I be moving the hen and her chicks to their own space after they hatch to be safe from predators and in a location that is not off the ground?

What does your coop look like? I have a big (8' x 12') ground level coop and let my hen raise them with the flock. If you have a tiny elevated coop with a ramp this might be a good idea. A photo of that coop could be interesting.

Any time any chicken of any age free ranges they are vulnerable to predators. Chicks' size make them more vulnerable than larger chickens. Many broody hens raise their chicks free range without any problems and without losses to predators. But many does not mean all. Chickens of any age or size can be lost at any time. That is purely your decision.

I would love advice and to hear about your experiences.

I grew up on a small farm many decades ago. The broody hens hatched and raised the chicks without being locked up during the day. Very few chicks or chickens were lost. From when I can remember until I left home at 18 we had two predator attacks on the adults. To lose even one chick in a summer was rare and we typically had about 4 broodies a year. That doesn't mean anything as to what will happen with yours. If a predator, say a dog, shows up you could lose every one of your chicks in a few seconds. Or say they get too close to a snake in the grass and you could lose one. Or you may have no problems.

Mine don't free range now. I have over 3,000 square feet in electric netting where they can roam with the broody. I practically never lose a chick. They are protected from ground predators but a hawk could get them.

 

[preppingmom]

Does this mean you have one of those staggered hatches where the eggs did not all start incubation at the same time? If so, we probably need to talk.


My hens hatch in nests that are 2' or 4' off of the coop floor. When the hen is ready to bring them off of the nest they hop down, bounce up, and run to her. They never go back to the nest, she takes them to sleep on the coop floor. If you have a nest in the floor she might or might not use it, I leave that decision up to her.


What does your coop look like? I have a big (8' x 12') ground level coop and let my hen raise them with the flock. If you have a tiny elevated coop with a ramp this might be a good idea. A photo of that coop could be interesting.

Any time any chicken of any age free ranges they are vulnerable to predators. Chicks' size make them more vulnerable than larger chickens. Many broody hens raise their chicks free range without any problems and without losses to predators. But many does not mean all. Chickens of any age or size can be lost at any time. That is purely your decision.


I grew up on a small farm many decades ago. The broody hens hatched and raised the chicks without being locked up during the day. Very few chicks or chickens were lost. From when I can remember until I left home at 18 we had two predator attacks on the adults. To lose even one chick in a summer was rare and we typically had about 4 broodies a year. That doesn't mean anything as to what will happen with yours. If a predator, say a dog, shows up you could lose every one of your chicks in a few seconds. Or say they get too close to a snake in the grass and you could lose one. Or you may have no problems.

Mine don't free range now. I have over 3,000 square feet in electric netting where they can roam with the broody. I practically never lose a chick. They are protected from ground predators but a hawk could get them.

Thank you so much for all of this great information!