4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[fuzzydoguk]

hi all after some advice please.

 

currently have 3 hens and one cockerel who have been free ranging in the garden for just under a year with no problems.

 

Have noticed today though that the silkie has now decided to go broody and is sat on her eggs (2 at the mo) and wont move.

 

We would love to hatch and have contacts that are willing to take any cockerels so thats not an issue but wondering is it best to leave her in the nest with the others or should we move her to her own coop (we have a quaratnine coop in the shed) and if so how would you suggest doing this

 

thanks

 

James

[craftyhunnypie]

A lot will say don't hatch this time of the year, but I actually do hatch this time of year.

I would definitely put her in her own accomodation right away with the eggs. Or build a good sized pen around her in the chicken shed - making sure the others can't get to her, but she has food & fresh water. Broodies like lots of bedding to make a nest from & are a target for mites & lice. We spinkled red mite powder on our broody & around her in her pen. They do ginormous poos about once a day, when they get off the nest for food & water.

Go for it!

 

Emma.x

[Lewis]

I'm in the don't hatch but wait until Spring camp, but as long as you keep them warm and sheltered from the elements it should be ok under a broody.

You'll need to separate her into some sort of broody coop (maybe put it inside the shed too), lots of bedding/straw, and as CHP says, re-mite powder.

Make sure she is warm enough, eating, drinking and pooing and she should do the rest with the eggs.

 

Just bear in mind that at this time of year the eggs may not be as fertile as in spring and you may end up with more cockerels

 

Godd luck + let us know how you get on

[Egluntyne]

I'm also in the 'wait till Spring' team.

 

However, if you do go ahead, you do need to separate her.

 

She will get very nasty with the others when they try to lay.

 

She will also need to be away from the others when the chicks hatch.