Seperating Broody hen with her eggs and chick

[PureFleet]

Today I got a surprise and found a chick under the two broody hens I have so I tried to separate one of the broody hens with the chick and the eggs that should hatch soon because the chicken coop is communal and I didn't want the other chickens bothering or trying to hurt the chicks. I tried to get both the broody chickens to go in another separate nest so they could have peace and quiet but neither would stay and wanted to go back to the old nest. I am worried because some of the other chickens have been trying to peck the chick but the hens wont stay on the eggs anywhere else.

One more thing when the chick came out from one of the hens the other hen tried pecking its leg, what should I do?

Thank you any tips will be appreciated.

 

[Alaskan]

I firm peck of "you need to stay warm and not come out yet" is normal... But there are some hens that will eat chicks as they hatch (not kidding, super nasty... But there we are). Try to watch them for 20 minutes or more and see which way your hens are leaning.


You might be stuck with being ultra creative, and figuring out how to block off the nests from the rest of the coop until about a day to three after the last egg hatches.

If you can't figure out how to be that creative... Take that first chick and take care of it in the house.