Hi everyone! I've just bought my first ever set of hatching eggs to put under my broody hen - very excited!! I'm unsure as to where to put her. I have a house and run which keeps four of my grown up ladies. I have bought a little separate hutch and run that would be suitable for chicks once born. I'm just not sure if I should but the eggs under her in the big coop and let them catch there with the other chickens and move to the hutch after they've dried off or to put the eggs and mother hen in the separate hutch now for the 21days and beyond. Any advice would be great
I prefer to have the broody in her own quarters as it prevents others from laying more eggs in the nest and I can feed the broody and chicks starter feed for a while. It's harder to feed a mixed flock (no layer feed for growing birds).
That said, I've let them stay with the flock too but it just works better separate.
X2 It is always best to give the broody her own space. Keeps other hens out of the nest to possibly crack eggs, or lay theirs in her clutch. And when the chicks hatch, they have their own space. Keep food and water for her only in this space and make sure the nest is not too high off the ground so the chicks don't fall out and too the ground.
Good luck with your broody hatch and welcome to our flock!
and Welcome To BYC!
