Hey Everybody,
I was reading through as many blogs as I could but still havent found the best answer. Here is my current situation that I am trying to avoid happening in my future coop:
The coop I have now is real nice, fits 12-15 chickens and everybody is on wire, the dropping go to the floor which is great for cleaning. I have 2 areas for nesting boxes, one with 2 nests on one side, one with 3 on the other. The ladies have made their choice and only use the triple one. Here is my problem. It is called Goldilocks and she is an old English game hen with attitude. Once again, she is broody and will fetch the eggs that everybody laid before I can get to them. Once I try to get them back she makes this face that reminds me of the angry raptor at Jurrasic Park and pecks my hand bloody. I wouldnt mind having her brood some out but the nest is about 2ft above the floor and I am so scared that her baby chicks will fall out and hurt themselves. Where in the future would I place a nesting box to allow for a broody hen to be in peace and get rest from the other chickens while allowing her chicks to be safe too? If I place it on the floor, wouldnt she prefer something higher? And then she wouldnt get any rest from the others. If I place it high I am back to where I am right now. With a hen with attitude and chicks that could fall out. Is there a way to create a separate area just for the broody hen and her chicks so that they can grow up away from the flock until they are bigger? I am so worried about them getting hurt by the other grown chickens. I guess this is a broody hen and problematic nesting box problem but I thought Id try this end first. Thank you for all your help!
I was reading through as many blogs as I could but still havent found the best answer. Here is my current situation that I am trying to avoid happening in my future coop:
The coop I have now is real nice, fits 12-15 chickens and everybody is on wire, the dropping go to the floor which is great for cleaning. I have 2 areas for nesting boxes, one with 2 nests on one side, one with 3 on the other. The ladies have made their choice and only use the triple one. Here is my problem. It is called Goldilocks and she is an old English game hen with attitude. Once again, she is broody and will fetch the eggs that everybody laid before I can get to them. Once I try to get them back she makes this face that reminds me of the angry raptor at Jurrasic Park and pecks my hand bloody. I wouldnt mind having her brood some out but the nest is about 2ft above the floor and I am so scared that her baby chicks will fall out and hurt themselves. Where in the future would I place a nesting box to allow for a broody hen to be in peace and get rest from the other chickens while allowing her chicks to be safe too? If I place it on the floor, wouldnt she prefer something higher? And then she wouldnt get any rest from the others. If I place it high I am back to where I am right now. With a hen with attitude and chicks that could fall out. Is there a way to create a separate area just for the broody hen and her chicks so that they can grow up away from the flock until they are bigger? I am so worried about them getting hurt by the other grown chickens. I guess this is a broody hen and problematic nesting box problem but I thought Id try this end first. Thank you for all your help!
