Hatching chicks with a broody hen.

[CrystalAnon]

Once chicks hatch Mom may stay on the nest a day or two, but after that she will likely remain on the floor with them.

While a hen sets expect to remove eggs that other hens lay daily, or shut the crate so other hens can't get in.

That’s why I wanted a space for the hen and chicks, larger than just the nest, because half of the coop floor is pooped on during the night, due to the roost placement. Where the extra laying nest/brooder crate is, they won’t get pooped on at night.
Okay. So you’re saying broody hens don’t mind if other hen lay new eggs in their nest. I don't mind that. And I do mark the ones I want hatched, so that shouldn’t be an issue. As long as the hen doesn’t mind, I don't mind fishing new eggs out of her clutch every day. Thank you!

 

[Ridgerunner]

So you’re saying broody hens don’t mind if other hen lay new eggs in their nest.

Most of my broody hens don't mind. Most of my hens are willing to share a nest while laying an egg. I've had as many as three hens in my 16" x 16" nests laying at the same time with all other nests empty. But most does not mean all. I've had some that did not want to share at all. Not many but some, broody or just laying an egg. Each chicken had its own personality, you never know for sure what an individual will do.

 

[CrystalAnon]

Most of my broody hens don't mind. Most of my hens are willing to share a nest while laying an egg. I've had as many as three hens in my 16" x 16" nests laying at the same time with all other nests empty. But most does not mean all. I've had some that did not want to share at all. Not many but some, broody or just laying an egg. Each chicken had its own personality, you never know for sure what an individual will do.

I added more nesting material to the new brooding crate last night. Hopefully they will be okay to share & the other hens won’t cause a major fuss because they can be in there with their own nest. We’ll see if that’s good enough for them!
I totally get what you’re saying. A couple chickens do the raptor-squawk if another hen is approaching. If they end up doing that, while actually being broody, I can close the crate to let her do her thing in (relative) peace. But none have shown much interest in being a mom this year, so far. It’s still technically late winter. We’ll see! Thanks for your input!!

 

[Chold05]

You have two basic options, once you get a broody. Do you let her hatch with the flock or do you isolate her during incubating and hatching. People do it both ways.

When a hen goes broody collect all of the eggs you want her to hatch. Start them all at the same time so they all hatch at the same time and you avoid a staggered hatch. For a hen to prove she is truly broody and deserves hatching eggs she has to spend two consecutive nights on the nest. One night is not enough, it has to be two consecutive nights.

If you let her hatch with the flock, mark all of the eggs so you know which ones belong. I use a black Sharpie. Then after all the others have laid for the day check in her nest to remove any that don't belong. I often reach in the nest and raise her up so I can see under her but sometimes I might take her off of the nest and set her on the coop floor. When I set her on the coop floor she flops there for a short while and then either runs off to get food and drink, and to poop. Or she makes her way back to the nest.

That's basically all I do until the chicks hatch. Other hens will sometimes lay in that nest, either with the broody or when the broody is off of the nest. Most broody hens know to go back to their nest but every two or three years I'll have one that goes back to the wrong nest. What usually happens is that another hen was in her nest laying an egg so she found another nest. I typically have 3 or 4 broody hens a year so this is pretty rare. Some people get really stressed when they see this but when I see it I just set the broody back on her eggs. One time the eggs were really cold to the touch but that hen still hatched 11 chicks out of 11 eggs. Try not to panic if something doesn't go perfectly.

My nests are 2' to 4' above the coop floor. When the chicks hatch I let the hen decide when to bring them down. She says jump and they do. No big deal. Sometimes that is the day after the first chick hatches, sometimes it takes into the third day. I put food and water on the coop floor where the chicks can get it when she decides to bring them off. I leave everything else up to the hen.

If you isolate her you need a place big enough for a nest, food, and water. Leave her locked in there until after the eggs hatch. It needs to be predator safe. She should know instinctively to not poop in her nest but that doesn't cover the food or water so keep things clean. Many hens can be moved to another nest like this but occasionally one breaks from being broody when you try.

I don't know which method I'd suggest for you. It depends lot on what your coop looks like. If room is tight isolating her might be best. If you have enough room you can do either.

Good luck!

I was considering letting my broody hatch eggs as well which would be a first for both of us. My nest boxes are roughly 2 feet off the ground. Would that be too risky to let broody raise them there?

Also, once the eggs hatch- do I let the babies roam around with my other adult hens? Or do they need to be separated? (I have 8 chickens. )

 

[Ridgerunner]

I was considering letting my broody hatch eggs as well which would be a first for both of us. My nest boxes are roughly 2 feet off the ground. Would that be too risky to let broody raise them there?

Some people on this forum would freak out about that. My broody hens typically hatch in nests 2 feet and 4 feet above the coop floor without a problem. When I was a kid I saw a broody get her chicks down from a 10 feet high hayloft. She flew down, told them to jump, they did and bounced up to run to her. Isn't it nice to have kids that do what they are told!

I did have a problem once. The nest was a cat litter bucket with the top 7-1/2" x 11-1/2". That 7-1/2" was too small. The hen was sitting so close to the side that when the chicks climbed up on her back and then fell off they missed the nest and fell to the floor, 4 feet below. Four different times I had to pick up a chick and put it back in the nest with the broody, probably the same chick. It fell 4 feet and was not hurt. I retired that nest after that hatch.

So what do your nests look like? Are they so tiny or built in a way that the chicks can hit the floor if they fall off of her back?

Also, once the eggs hatch- do I let the babies roam around with my other adult hens? Or do they need to be separated? (I have 8 chickens. )

We do this different ways. Some of us allow a broody hen to hatch and raise her chicks with the flock. Some isolate during incubation, hatch, or after hatch. Lots of different ways you can approach this. I don't consider any of them the only right way with everything else wrong. But your conditions might influence your decision.

What does your coop look like? Is it tiny with space cramped or does the broody hen have enough room to take care of her chicks? With 8 chickens other than the chicks if it is a 4' x 8' it is probably pretty cramped. Is it elevated with a ramp? baby chicks can learn to use a ramp, but you want to be out there the first few nights after they leave the coop during the day to make sure they all get back up.

How much room do you have outside? Does the broody have enough room to take care of her chicks without the other hens being on top of her?

Do you have enough room for the chicks to take care of themselves once the broody hen weans them? I've had broody hens wean their chicks as early as 3 weeks or as late as 3 months of age. This means the chicks need to take care of themselves, she has stopped helping them. They need enough room to stay away from the adults (including the former broody) until they can join the pecking order, which for mine is about the time they start laying.

No easy clearcut answers to any of this. Many of us maneuver through this all of the time, some in less than ideal conditions. Good luck!