How Big Does A Broody Coop NEED to Be?

[new2chickens2011]

Hi y'all,
I want to build a small broody coop to be used for one hen and her chicks. SO I was wondering, how much space do they actually NEED?
Thanks!

 

[Wisher1000]

It depends on how many chicks and how long you intend to leave them all in there. If you just want to keep them separate until the mom stops taking them into the nest box (a couple of weeks, maybe more) then it can be much smaller than if you are planning to grow out the babies until they can integrate with the flock. Give us some more details, please....

 

[new2chickens2011]

Sorry for the lack of details.
This would be just to keep them in for a few weeks, and we would only let her hatch up to five eggs.
Thanks for your patience!

 

[gingernutranger]

The more space the better! I always give my chickens a little more room than necessary. For a broody hen and five chicks, if you were to simply buy or build a medium tractor that is suitable for four hens that would be best. I have let a bantam go broody in my Eglu Chicken Coop that raised 5 chicks and it was perfect. For a large fowl hen a little more space is better.

 

[chickendales]

i would do either 2ft by 3 ft or 3ft by 3ft

 

[chickendales]

http://www.tractorsupply.com/home-rig-house-trade-rabbit-cage-30-in-x-30-in--2179588

 

[chickendales]

i use rabbit nest boxes

 

[new2chickens2011]

Thanks!

 

[Wisher1000]

I'm having the same issue myself. I want a place to move a broody into where she can hatch and raise her babies until she gets ready to stop using the nestbox. I am thinking 2x6 with a 2x2 nest box and a 2x4 run area with feed and water. I am thinking it will all have to be covered, the nest part needs to protect the family and the covered run part to protect the food from weather. I also want them on the ground so the little ones can learn to forage from Mom. Maybe a tractor is the best idea. When it is not occupied by a broody, it can be isolation, quarantine, or hospital ward. I'm still in the planning stage, can you tell!?

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I built a little 2 x 6 pen that I used for a broody with two chicks. I put a cardboard diaper box in the corner and food & water at the other end. I put it in the coop so that the other birds would get used to the chicks. As the chicks got older I used it as a creep for them to be able to get away from the big birds. Now I use it to introduce new birds into the pen as well as for new chicks. It's nice to have, easy to put together out of 2 x 2's and chicken wire, and cheap to make.

eta: I put a door on the front and covered the top with a baby gate I had. I attached it with some bungees and could slide the top back for easy cleaning. Look around and see what you have. An old baby playpen makes a great pen as well. Cover the bottom with newspaper then put your shavings down. Works in a pinch!