Update: Broody in Nesting Box

[CPT]

Hi all!

Looks like our broody hen is still sitting in her raised nesting box for almost a week and half now. I bring her some food, so at least she eats. Looks like she has about 6-8 eggs underneath.

We have a walk in coop, where we close the door at night with all the birds inside....there's a little hole along the bottom of the coop, where they can walk out into the enclosed run. It's a huge run, which is also where we keep our goats, too. I usually go down there in the morning to open the coop door for the day.

Based on BYC suggestions, I set up a dog crate with pine shavings inside, so that it's ready to go, if the eggs hatch. I'll have to move mom and chicks inside the dog crate. We will put the dog crate inside of the coop.

Now I'm wondering what to do from there??? Thanks, all!

 

[azygous]

You're wise to try to think ahead to when the chicks hatch. Chicks will not remain under the broody after the second day. They will be out of the nest exploring and the broody will be teaching them to find food and to drink. So you will need space for these activities. The broody doesn't usually return to the nest to warm her chicks. Instead, she crouches wherever she happens to be when they signal to her they need to warm up under her.

Depending on other chickens, you might consider providing a safe space outside of the crate where the adult flock won't endanger the tiny chicks. Their food and water will need to be protected so the flock doesn't eat it all.

By the time the chicks are a week old, the broody will want to start introducing them to the flock. So you'll need to think about providing her the freedom to do this. In addition to this, you may want to switch the entire flock to an all flock feed if you're feeding layer feed to the egg layers. Chicks shouldn't have this high calcium feed until the pullets begin to lay, themselves. Many of us simply stick to an all flock feed permanently with oyster shell on the side for the layers. It greatly simplifies things.

By the way, you can feed an all flock feed to the chicks in lieu of chick starter as both are practically identical. Clumps of your local sod given to chicks in their first two weeks can provide a high degree of resistance to pathogens in lieu of medicated chick starter.

 

[CPT]

Thanks so much! Any suggestions on how / where to provide safe space? The dog crate is just temporary. Practically all our farm space is shared by chickens, goats, horses, guineas, and rooster.

OH, I JUST looked online and guess I need to find a broody coop. I am NOT handy at all; any suggestions on where to get one?

"Depending on other chickens, you might consider providing a safe space outside of the crate where the adult flock won't endanger the tiny chicks. Their food and water will need to be protected so the flock doesn't eat it all."

 

[azygous]

It only needs to be a temporary space for about a week until all the chickens get used to the idea of having the new small ones in their midst. Then you can take down the barrier.

 

[CPT]

OH ok. However, I don't have room enough in the coop to put a barrier. I'll need to put mama and chicks somewhere else. All the chickens, 2 guinea fowl and rooster sleep inside the coop at night.

I am looking into getting an A frame rabbit hutch with a run.

 

[Minky]

Thanks so much! Any suggestions on how / where to provide safe space? The dog crate is just temporary. Practically all our farm space is shared by chickens, goats, horses, guineas, and rooster.

OH, I JUST looked online and guess I need to find a broody coop. I am NOT handy at all; any suggestions on where to get one?

"Depending on other chickens, you might consider providing a safe space outside of the crate where the adult flock won't endanger the tiny chicks. Their food and water will need to be protected so the flock doesn't eat it all."

A nice big cardboard box is working great for my hen who just hatched 9 chicks this week! I made her a beautiful nursery along side our run, but the day of hatch there was a storm and tempertures plummeted to the teens (-11 C) so I used a big appliance box and put her in the garage, instead of out in the barn. Chicks are 4 days old now and they'll be fine in there until Tuesday when I'll move her outside- its supposed to warm up. You'll be able to get a big box for free at any appliance store, just call a day ahead.

 

[CPT]

That's a good idea.....
I'm not sure whether to place this separate area outside or in our garage/tack room. I DO want to include our broody with the rest of the flock so that they don't abandon her.
Needs space for food/water.

I can't decide what to do! Soooo, I could either:

1: Get an A frame rabbit hutch. They sell them online through PetCo.
2: I do have a large dog kennel (see-through all around), would have to maybe attach chicken wire around the outsides. This is what I have, see picture.
3: Get large appliance box.

 

[CPT]

Suggestions from anyone about the above?? Would appreciate it, thanks!

 

[azygous]

I supposed the dog kennel would do. If your garage/tack room has room for it, that would be where I'd house the broody and the chicks. I'd move her in before the eggs hatch.

After the chicks are eating and drinking and you see the broody caring for them, you could let them have access to the yard so she can introduce them to the others.

I have no idea how your turkeys and other animals will react to the baby chicks, though. I hope you do.

 

[sevenfatcows]

You're wise to try to think ahead to when the chicks hatch. Chicks will not remain under the broody after the second day. They will be out of the nest exploring and the broody will be teaching them to find food and to drink. So you will need space for these activities. The broody doesn't usually return to the nest to warm her chicks. Instead, she crouches wherever she happens to be when they signal to her they need to warm up under her.

Depending on other chickens, you might consider providing a safe space outside of the crate where the adult flock won't endanger the tiny chicks. Their food and water will need to be protected so the flock doesn't eat it all.

By the time the chicks are a week old, the broody will want to start introducing them to the flock. So you'll need to think about providing her the freedom to do this. In addition to this, you may want to switch the entire flock to an all flock feed if you're feeding layer feed to the egg layers. Chicks shouldn't have this high calcium feed until the pullets begin to lay, themselves. Many of us simply stick to an all flock feed permanently with oyster shell on the side for the layers. It greatly simplifies things.

By the way, you can feed an all flock feed to the chicks in lieu of chick starter as both are practically identical. Clumps of your local sod given to chicks in their first two weeks can provide a high degree of resistance to pathogens in lieu of medicated chick starter.

You said it all!