Broody over kittens!?!?

[Christabelle]

I have an interesting dilemma, that I was hoping someone on here may have encountered. First off, I have a barn cat that loves to be in with my chickens. She has always been at home in nesting boxes. About two weeks ago she had three kittens in a nesting box. I was a little worried about the chickens and kittens co-existing because the hens still get in the nesting box... But all has been fine.

Yesterday I noticed that my gold laced Cochin had assumed pancake position over where the kittens were, and after fishing around under her I found the three kittens very at happy and toasty (they aren't tiny anymore, their eyes are open but they don't get around too well) but no eggs. I decided to move them because momma hens don't have milk and she would growl and fluff up at momma kitty if she came in. When I checked back on the situation today, the kittens were back under the Cochin hen. I am guessing that the momma cat moves them back? I've never had a momma cat, so that is a new experience too. I got my original barn cats from the humane society and they were spayed. I think since I always have food out several strays/dump offs have adopted me. Next I tried moving the hen somewhere else on to some eggs I wanted hatched, but she was back on the kittens in less than 15 minutes.

Anyway, not sure if any of you have encountered this. Do you think I am just over stressing it? Will it just work itself out? I guess I could try to isolate the hen... Somewhere.

Anyone ever had a problem like this?

Bock-meow bock-meow

 

[ll]

Wow - adorable situation.
Yes I would isolate the hen somewhere else, it's cute that Momma Cat is putting her kittens in there but you're right... hens don't have milk and you don't want the kittens to get malnurished because puffy-growly is "protecting" them.
Or give mom & her kittens a super soft cozy spot elsewhere?
Good luck!

 

[Christabelle]

 

[laurabell]

Just saw this old post searching for advice as we're in the same boat! I've got a broody silkie who is very persistent about sitting on some kittens a stray cat had in one of the nesting boxes. It's adorable, but I'm worried she'll peck them or prevent Mama cat from feeding them.

Any suggestions on how to separate a broody hen? We've got a small backyard coop, and all I can think of is to shut all the hens out of it, but I don't want them to start laying eggs elsewhere.

 

[FrostRanger]

Just saw this old post searching for advice as we're in the same boat! I've got a broody silkie who is very persistent about sitting on some kittens a stray cat had in one of the nesting boxes. It's adorable, but I'm worried she'll peck them or prevent Mama cat from feeding them.

Any suggestions on how to separate a broody hen? We've got a small backyard coop, and all I can think of is to shut all the hens out of it, but I don't want them to start laying eggs elsewhere.

If you have a wire dog crate, you can place her in there with food, water and a perch (no substrate that she can potentially nest in. The crate MUST be bare bottomed) to break her of being broody