There's a hen of mine thats sitting on the eggs, (we have a roo) and I'm ok with her hatching them, but I'm not sure if it would be alright if she sat on them in her nesting box and if the chicks would be ok with all the other chickens after they hatched. Please help!!!
If possible, I would move her to a safer location. Like a dog crate...and where she is on the floor level. That way no babies will fall out, and the others wont try to hurt them, or lay in her nest! Good luck on the hatch! What breeds are they??
I've heard it's fine to leave them as long as it is a safe location. Otherwise if you pull her to a new nest, you can't reintroduce till the chicks are much older. So you are looking at a really long time. Not sure about the roo, but the other hens would accept the chicks just fine if hatched on the nest.
Some hens will protect their babies once hatched, you just need to keep an eye on things.... how high up is the nest box? is she protective of her eggs? does she growl at you? I would think a hen thats very protective will keep her little chicks safe from the other hens and probably the rooster as well. Do you have another nest box for the other hens to do their thing?
I think it is much easier if you can move her to a private location. It's a pain to have to keep checking under her to get any freshly laid eggs out. My hens must always lay in the box a broody is in. DH just built me a nice broody coop so I am looking forward to using that this year.
there are two nesting boxes side by side and no other chickens are laying yet when you try to put your hand under her, she pecks at it, so I think she's good off. The box isn't very far up, i'll give u pics later of the box. (the breed will be a mixed game of some sort. didn't controll the breeding.)
I like to move my broody hens and their eggs to their own little space, i think its less stress for them in the long run and definitly easier on the chicks. chickhamm Theressa