TOO many broody hen

[Rudys Flock]

I had 4 hens and 2 roosters. I now have 2 Broody houses with little runs for each and a hen in each one with 4 chicks. 1 set of chicks are 3 weeks old the other is 4 days old.
Now my problem

I also have a hen that has gone broody in the big chicken coop. Her eggs could hatch any day. WHAT DO I DO WITH THEM?
I want to keep them from the hawks and I can't leave her in the big house, a snake ate 4 of her eggs and could get the chicks. We have a real hawk problem so they can't run free.

Can I put her in either one of the other houses with the hens and their chicks.

Please help fast.

 

[Broody Queen]

No, you shouldnt put her in the same house as the other chicks, that would end quite badly. You can try putting the three week old chicks in the big chicken coop, the mama should protect them from the rooster and hen and they should be big enough to not interest the snake. Just an idea. Good luck!

 

[Rudys Flock]

Thanks for the reply, my husband has gotten creative, he is going to make a screen from hardware cloth to block off a section of the house. It is actually 12'X12' and there is plenty of room, I may still put the larger chicks in the big house I don't want them in the chicken yard yet they can still get through the fence. Besides if I have to lock the chicken yard the rest of the chicken free roam and they aren't fond of being locked in the chicken yard. I guess we can lock her in with the chicks for another week or so, I am afraid if she would want to roam with the others and the chicks followed her they might get eaten by the hawks.

Last year we bought baby chicks and took their pen out into the yard (it was still cold and they were in the garage) anyway the hawks are bold, they would actually sit on top of the pen, we had to go out every day and shoo them away.
.

We only get snakes about once a month, but the last one we had Don held it up and the tail was still on the ground and my Husband is over 6' himself..

 

[Broody Queen]

I understand, we have a hawk problem here as well, i dont let my chicks free roam until they are 2+ months and even then i get really stressed out... Oh sweet lord, there was no need to share that, i am not very fond of snakes...

Sounds like a good idea, I'm glad you figured everything out!