Ashrhod710
Chirping
So we had a new shed installed two months ago when our flock outgrew their coop. A week ago we had some bad windstorms and it took it down. Thankfully the chickens were free ranging and not in the coop. ( I don’t know where they took cover, but we didn’t lose any) so anyway, we’ve had to move our 14 chickens back into their old coop ( home built and STURDY) until this summer when we can replace it with a bigger setup again. The problem is that our Ayam hen has decided against our wishes to go broody. Been trying to break her for almost a week and at this point I’m ready to just give in and build her a safe mini coop to brood in because I don’t think she will feel safe enough in a nest box in the coop. ( too many chickens in with her) She keeps trying to brood in a nest box in the run but I don’t want anything to get her at night. So I need some ideas for budget friendly builds or repurposed things to give her a safe warm place to brood outside the main coop, inside the run. We do have raccoons and skunks and cats and coyotes here. And a Fox that live about an acre or two away. Temps here don’t usually go below freezing except maybe a handful of times during winter. ( the past few days have been low 40s at night but tomorrow night it’s supposed to get down to 30 and hover between 25-35 at night for about a week and then go back to low 40s. ).
I was thinking about wrapping our dog crate in hardware cloth, and putting a covered cat litter box in it and then filling that with plenty of wood shavings for softness and insulation. And I could put a raccoon proof latch on the door as well. But I wanted ideas and opinions on if that would work or if there’s a better idea.
I was thinking about wrapping our dog crate in hardware cloth, and putting a covered cat litter box in it and then filling that with plenty of wood shavings for softness and insulation. And I could put a raccoon proof latch on the door as well. But I wanted ideas and opinions on if that would work or if there’s a better idea.
and yes I considered the weather and will keep trying to break her but the last time this happened with a different hen I’d be able to keep her off for a few days then right back to broody she went. She eventually started hiding eggs and acting normal then all of a sudden broody again but with MORE eggs than I thought possible. ( had four hens....FOUR) after two weeks I had only been able to collect about 8 eggs and I thought it was the weather ( beginning of fall) so I didn’t think twice. Next thing I know I go out to collect eggs and she’s BACK in the nest box with 31 eggs.... she didn’t even fit on them all!!!!! So at some point when I was at work, she took the eggs from her hiding spot and moved them to the nest and at that point I gave up. Took half away from her and let her keep the rest. Hence.... I now have 14 chickens. 
