Broody hen and chick coop set up for using broody hen to hatch eggs.

[Akachicklil]

Dear Chicken Folks,

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend out there in chicken land. I have a lovely broody prone hen and I want to create a flock. I have thought about different approaches … the first was integrating pullets… however that seems extremely risking and stressful. (Long and tedious quarantine period and then slow integration). Therefore I thought it would be a great idea to take advance of the broody hen method to hatch eggs… rather than using an incubator. I want her to do all the work. I have a chicken coop and run inside of a large walk in chicken “ run/pen” I think that’s what you would call it. I’ll post pics for reference. Anyways my question is:

1. Where on earth on this site or elsewhere can I find instructions on what a broody hen/ chick coop set up should look like? My current coop is elevated with stairs. I read that it’s best to not use this for a broody hen to hatch eggs because it is dangerous as the chicks can fall out. I cannot find anything on this site showing pictures and set up information. All I could find is how to determine if a hen is broody and how to give her eggs…

I would be so grateful If someone could help me find information on this…

This seems for me to be the best approach to create a flock.


***Disclaimer: I have one hen.. she is thriving and so happy and healthy. Many folks have a pet hen that is very happy and healthy. I AM HER FLOCK LEADER. I spend all my time with her. She is thriving. I ask for anyone who graciously provides assistance to please set aside judgement about the fact that I have one very well taken care of hen.. I don’t need the condescending comments or reminders that chickens are flock animal… I KNOW. She is living her best life and I rescued her.. she came to me.

Thank you

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

I raise chicks with broodies all the time and it is wonderful, I’m glad you are going to let her be a mama.

Your setup will be just fine for her if you are able to new track of when the eggs will hatch and be proactive. She can raise her chicks on the ground and not in the nest box.

Let her choose her nest spot and give her the eggs. On day 20 start listening for cheeping. Definitely by day 21 you can shut her into the nest area (if that’s the spot she chose) just to make sure no chicks fall out somehow. When they are done hatching (it may take over a day), you can move the whole family wherever you want them. I would make a new nest on the ground and keep the door to the top shut until the chicks are a few weeks old.

I let my mama hens sit on eggs in the main coop and stick the whole nest in a box on day 18. As soon as hatching starts I move the box to the baby coop and the hen will stick to the nest like glue. I actually have eggs hatching under my broody hen Rose right now. (She eats the egg shells after the chicks hatch.)

 

[DobieLover]

You are going to need a bigger coop before you expand your flock. You only have enough room in that coop for her alone. I would build a large enough coop to house her and her "daughters" that you will keep before you allow her to set.
By the time you get the new coop ready the weather should be warm enough to let her set. I would just convert the tiny coop you have into a brooder coop. Install a predator apron around the base and cover the walls of the "run" section to block the prevailing winds, put down a nice layer of bedding in there and let her dig out and build her own nest. Once/if she grafts to the new site, you can give her fertile hatching eggs.
You can switch her over to Flock Raiser, All Flock or a good chick starter now and just keep her and her daughters on it for life. Put out a container of oyster shell when she starts laying again. She will feed the chicks when they hatch.
I would also train her to use a vertical nipple waterer as they are chick safe and keep the water clean and the brooder area dry.

You will also need a plan on what to do with the boys she hatches. Can you have roosters where you are? Even if you can, you will only want one with a small flock.

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

I agree about the coop size unless you are adding bantams. I think that coop would be fine for your hen plus a couple bantams, as long as they always have access to the run area. (Plan for half roosters so set 4 eggs under your hen, maximum.)

Also bantam roosters are easier to rehome than full size roosters, if you need to do that.

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

@DobieLover the OP is in Florida so the hen will need to set soon or it may get too hot. I am sure you are still in the midst of winter but it’s spring down here already!

 

[DobieLover]

@DobieLover the OP is in Florida so the hen will need to set soon or it may get too hot. I am sure you are still in the midst of winter but it’s spring down here already!

Well, it's 16 degrees out right now and my fingers are still warming up after changing the water in my run so winter is certainly still on my mind.
I guess she better start building fast then because there is no room in that coop for additions to her lone hen.

 

[Akachicklil]

I raise chicks with broodies all the time and it is wonderful, I’m glad you are going to let her be a mama.

Your setup will be just fine for her if you are able to new track of when the eggs will hatch and be proactive. She can raise her chicks on the ground and not in the nest box.

Let her choose her nest spot and give her the eggs. On day 20 start listening for cheeping. Definitely by day 21 you can shut her into the nest area (if that’s the spot she chose) just to make sure no chicks fall out somehow. When they are done hatching (it may take over a day), you can move the whole family wherever you want them. I would make a new nest on the ground and keep the door to the top shut until the chicks are a few weeks old.

I let my mama hens sit on eggs in the main coop and stick the whole nest in a box on day 18. As soon as hatching starts I move the box to the baby coop and the hen will stick to the nest like glue. I actually have eggs hatching under my broody hen Rose right now. (She eats the egg shells after the chicks hatch.)

Thank you so much! Great information. I am going to take notes. Yes, my story of having my little chicken is an interesting one. I never thought I would have her. She came to me and we feel in love. As I have had her I have slowly progressed and learned how and what to do… she is happy as can be. You can see that she is practically in a queen in her set up I have for her. I have been making sure to do as much research as possible… I like to do things the right way. Especially when it comes to caring for one of Gods precious creatures. Thanks again for the notes above. Your hen is adorable. I wanted to make sure that I was able to commit and do a good job with my one hen that came to me before going crazy… but I think the chicken math is starting to grow in me… hehehehhehehe

 

[Akachicklil]

You are going to need a bigger coop before you expand your flock. You only have enough room in that coop for her alone. I would build a large enough coop to house her and her "daughters" that you will keep before you allow her to set.
By the time you get the new coop ready the weather should be warm enough to let her set. I would just convert the tiny coop you have into a brooder coop. Install a predator apron around the base and cover the walls of the "run" section to block the prevailing winds, put down a nice layer of bedding in there and let her dig out and build her own nest. Once/if she grafts to the new site, you can give her fertile hatching eggs.
You can switch her over to Flock Raiser, All Flock or a good chick starter now and just keep her and her daughters on it for life. Put out a container of oyster shell when she starts laying again. She will feed the chicks when they hatch.
I would also train her to use a vertical nipple waterer as they are chick safe and keep the water clean and the brooder area dry.
View attachment 3014384
You will also need a plan on what to do with the boys she hatches. Can you have roosters where you are? Even if you can, you will only want one with a small flock.

How insightful of you. I can see you took the time to look at my set up. So thank you. Yeah the coop I have has two nest boxes inside… I hope to get bantam eggs… but that is certainly a good point you made about my coop size… so I will have to take another look and see if two grown chicks plus the mother will be reasonable comfortable in there. Darn lol … I’m going to need to hire a chicken planner to come to my house and help me more… So yes my plan is to get bantam eggs… not sure if you can tell my chicken is pretty small. She is an excellent layer… I always put oyster shell… and now she is eating her layer feed.. but thanks for pointing that out since that is certainly important to know!!!! I’m regards to the rooster… I was thinking about that. I know a few chicken owners with actual farm land that I plan to speak with and give away any cockerels that might hatch…. Thanks I am going to take notes on all of the above…. I am so grateful for this fabulous community of chicken lovers. You all taking the time to write to me is a mitzvah!!!

 

[DobieLover]

so I will have to take another look and see if two grown chicks plus the mother will be reasonable comfortable in there

I can answer that now: no. It's too small.
You want to target 4 sq ft of coop floor space per LF bird and 2.5-3 per bantam, not including area taken for nest boxes. Being in FL, I'd make an open air coop.

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

Depending on your predator situation you may be able to add on to the run and use the whole thing as your coop/run. I’ve used a cattle panel green house as a coop before and it worked ok. You could Google that and see if the basic idea would work.

With the run you have, you can probably buy another section and attach it to make an area big enough for the amount of chickens you want.

I have that same run and I only use it for short term separating, I don’t trust it to keep out raccoons or possums, much less dogs. If you have those predators you can cover the whole thing in hardware cloth and it would be a lot safer but it would be a lot of work.