Ridiculous bantam hen hatching eggs

[rosemarythyme]

Anyway. It sounds like the drake summer house might be our best option. It has a ramp for little chicks to climb, and it's also big enough that I can put a large dog crate or box in there. I could probably even use a couple bales of straw around the crate or box as added insulation right?

I definitely don't want momma hen to go through being picked on going back to the flock. At the same time, our chickens seem to be monsters. A couple Silkie Roo's caught and killed a baby snapping turtle a couple years ago.

The drake house sounds fine as long as that ramp is fairly easy to climb (chicks don't instinctively do ramps and can struggle with them) and a bit of straw should be fine for insulation if needed.

You know your flock best, but I think if the hen isn't too submissive she should have no problem warning the rest of the flock to leave the babies alone. Difference with the chicks vs the turtle is 1) the turtle wasn't being protected by a hen and 2) well, it's a turtle. I've seen my hens beat mice to death and eat them, but they've never tried to eat a chick even though I've let them interact face to face as early as 10 days without a broody to help.

At least it's supposed to get into the 40's during the day. And I can't believe I'm talking like 40's are tolerable temperatures.

40s is quite tolerable, I have baby chicks out with a heating pad in the 40s. In your case, your heating pad is mobile and clucking.