Managing Broody Hens

[MommaBison]

Hey everyone! I have 3 broody hens, all in separate places. Only one is in a safe place for chicks to hatch. Another is in a predator safe space, but not suitable for hatching (milk crate inside the chickshaw) and the final is in an old mill house on our property, I thought this girl was missing, so I'm not sure how long she's been sitting on these eggs, but it's not a safe place for chicks nor is it even slightly predator proof.


What do I do? Can I move them all to the predator proof, chick safe place? It is our old meat bird coop. Would it be safe for the chicks to put all of them in the same place? I know they need to be somewhat separate from the rest of the flock. The one in the milk crate successfully hatched a chick last year, but it died due to my error in not providing bedding in the crate or moving her to a safer space for chicks. If it were just one hen, I think I'd feel confident in moving her and her eggs at night to the old meat bird coop, but I'm unsure how to handle this.

We definitely need the chicks and I want them to hatch what they can. I'm not looking to break the brood, I'm just looking to keep them all safe, mamas and babies.

 

[FrostRanger]

I'd advise against putting them all together. Broody hens will sometimes kill each other's chicks. Do you have any large wire dog crates? You might be able to make some emergency maternity wards with those

 

[MommaBison]

I'd advise against putting them all together. Broody hens will sometimes kill each other's chicks. Do you have any large wire dog crates? You might be able to make some emergency maternity wards with those

That's what I'm worried about. I don't have anything like that. I also found another hen sitting in the milk house. I think I have to remove some eggs, there's a ton in there, but I'm not sure how long they've been setting or anything. Would they actively attack other chicks? Or only if the chick gets mixed up?

 

[FrostRanger]

That's what I'm worried about. I don't have anything like that. I also found another hen sitting in the milk house. I think I have to remove some eggs, there's a ton in there, but I'm not sure how long they've been setting or anything. Would they actively attack other chicks? Or only if the chick gets mixed up?

Depends on the hen but some absolutely will go out of their way to attack any chicks not part of her brood. Again, not all hens are like this, some are fine with other broodies and their chicks but you won't know who's fine and who's not until the time comes

 

[MommaBison]

Depends on the hen but some absolutely will go out of their way to attack any chicks not part of her brood. Again, not all hens are like this, some are fine with other broodies and their chicks but you won't know who's fine and who's not until the time comes

Shoot. I really only have the one safe place and kennels aren't cheap...eventually, in the new barn (being built this year) we will have multiple broody hen pens, but that doesn't help now.

 

[FrostRanger]

Shoot. I really only have the one safe place and kennels aren't cheap...eventually, in the new barn (being built this year) we will have multiple broody hen pens, but that doesn't help now.

Hmm, if your coop and run are secure you could get some cheap lumber and some chicken wire to fashion a few cheap maternity wards. Might be a bit cheaper than buying crates

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

Dog play pen panels? We found some cheap on FB marketplace and rummage sales- not sure where you are at. We just build a little square out of them.

Example: