That’s it I’m done...

[Crs1]

with trying to put my Broodies on the ground in their own space!
Each time and this is the third Think I would learn I lose an egg to something. I think it gets cracked open and someone eats it. She is now up off the ground in the nest box of her choice with 5 eggs under her. I will have to check her to make sure she stays on the eggs and remove everyone else’s eggs. And moving her closer to hatch won’t be a picnic.
She just had the eggs put under her yesterday but she’s been broody for at least a week

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's why they also should be penned separately. Chickens will eat eggs on the ground. Nestboxes hatching has it's own problems too. All broody hatching is stressful.

 

[Crs1]

The area I had her in is about 20 inches wide by 4 feet long and under the nest boxes
But I kept it open so she could get out to poop. She had food and water in with her. Would it be alright to keep her penned in there for 3 weeks?
But not including the broody eating her own eggs on the ground right?!?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The area I had her in is about 20 inches wide by 4 feet long and under the nest boxes
But I kept it open so she could get out to poop. She had food and water in with her. Would it be alright to keep her penned in there for 3 weeks?
But not including the broody eating her own eggs on the ground right?!?

I have penned mine for the full three weeks. If you want you can always let them out daily and stand guard until she returns. I have never had a broody eat her own eggs. Other hens will rush in the minute the broody leaves for a quick snack.

I have hatched in nestboxes, but you gotta be there at hatch time as sometimes chicks jump out and get chilled or killed. You also have to check daily for added eggs, and that mom went back to the correct nest which doesn't always happen.

 

[HuffleClaw]

So sorry it’s been such a struggle, @oldhenlikesdogs has given wonderful input! Good luck!!

 

[Crs1]

But how do you make them come out when you are standing guard? I have gone down to do that and they just sit there. Ok I will try again because I would much prefer her on the floor

I agree about the nest boxes that’s why I tried to put her on the floor

You said earlier in a post about it being so stressful I agree 100%

Thanks

 

[aart]

4' long, minus a foot for nest?, should be enough room to stretch her legs and poop away from nest and feed/water.

ETA..so no need to let her out of that space at all.

 

[Crs1]

Gonna do that after dinner

 

[mixedbreeds]

I have had two Broody hens hatch out there chicks in a dog crate this year. I think they are 36”x30” something like that. I built a nest box for each one put in the eggs popped the broody in and they both zoomed on to the eggs. I had food and water in there worked great.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

But how do you make them come out when you are standing guard? I have gone down to do that and they just sit there. Ok I will try again because I would much prefer her on the floor

I agree about the nest boxes that’s why I tried to put her on the floor

You said earlier in a post about it being so stressful I agree 100%

Thanks

I just pick them off the nest and put them down, most times with a nudge they move off to do business. I agree with @aart , she should be okay in her pen.