foreveryoung Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 my girls live in a converted tool shed! its quiet big as i can get in . "Broody" has as from today got 6 eggs (hopefully furtile!) underneith her! how should i go about cleaning the hut out? they have nest boxes (3 wooden nectarine boxes) they have wood shavings around the boxes! do i just s"Ooops, word censored!"e that out and just work around her or just get the worst out??? xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemychooks Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 I've had to work round my chickens too but as soon as I started cleaning they moved out the way, not sure what your broody hen would do though ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 Personally I'd separate her from the others as soon as possible. She needs somewhere quiet to sit where she can't be disturbed by the others. The chicks will need separate accommodation when they hatch anyway, otherwise your other chickens may kill them. If she's on her own, you won't have the cleaning problem as she will either get off the nest herself to eat, drink and poop, or you will need to make sure she does it once a day. Good luck with the hatching - it is very rewarding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 not sure what i can put her in??? i was told they sould be fine with the other girls??? i have a small trangle run??? (normally used for rabbits and g/pigs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 I don't want to sound harsh, but have you really given hatching enough thought? It's a good idea to read up on the subject beforehand - here's an article from a recent Smallholder magazine that will help get you started: Broody Hen article There are some very good books too by Katie Thear or Victoria Roberts, not to mention those in the Omlet shop of course. Not many people on here have any experience of hatching so you might be better off posting on one of the more general forums - Pekin Bantams, Poultry Keeper or Practical Poultry. Mods - please feel free to delete this if I've offended! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 I haven't hatched under a chicken but I would think about seperating them for sure. Has the triangle run got a sheltered part/ hutch at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 Mods - please feel free to delete this if I've offended No, I think you've made some valid points, Jools . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 phew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 (edited) I don't want to sound harsh, but have you really given hatching enough thought? It's a good idea to read up on the subject beforehand - here's an article from a recent Smallholder magazine that will help get you started: Broody Hen article There are some very good books too by Katie Thear or Victoria Roberts, not to mention those in the Omlet shop of course. Not many people on here have any experience of hatching so you might be better off posting on one of the more general forums - Pekin Bantams, Poultry Keeper or Practical Poultry. Mods - please feel free to delete this if I've offended! I have looked up the subject and was planning to allow her to go broody in a month or so but she chose now!! so caught short really! i was told that if mother rears them then all sould be fine! "broody" gets broody so often to the point of being rediculouse so i thought this would be another avenue to try! last year she was broody 4 times during the summer! ive done almost everything! ive spokent to our local vet and she's told me more or less what to do! we used the small run for when she was ill so will prob use that (they said she wont do much roaming anyway(ofcourse i will get her out for a couple of mins to get her eating,drinking etc! i also plain to raise the run a little so to give more head room! shes only a small hen! like most things you do for the 1st time you are learning! Edited June 25, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 I haven't hatched under a chicken but I would think about seperating them for sure. Has the triangle run got a sheltered part/ hutch at all? yes it has we used it for her when she was ill! we made a false wall so to speak inbetween the sheltered bit and the wired bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 I also intend to raise the run up to make a lil bit more room for her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 like most things you do for the 1st time you are learning! ...and what great advice you have been given on here Emma. We can never stop learning can we and it sounds like you have done lots of homework. Good luck and share your experiences with us too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
