How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Hatching eggs with Brooder Hen~Help!!

You need to set up quarters for her away from the other hens. Hens usually fight some when a new one is introduced. Fighting and stress might even stop the broody hen from wanting to set. I would keep her and the eggs in the crate until the eggs hatch. The crate could be keep in a garage or shed if you don't want it in the house. While she is setting you could try to come up with an idea for housing for her and the chicks. If the chickens are free ranging, you might be able to let her out with the others when they hatch. If they are confined to a pen or coop, they might very likely attack her and the chicks. If you could get ahold of a rabbit hutch or something like that, the family could live there until the chicks were fully feathered. I would still be careful in introducing them to the rest of the flock.

Kathy

In a message dated 1/30/2011 12:33:44 P.M. Central Standard Time, MelanieOzuna1020@msn.com writes:

Hello all!

I am new to this group and fairly new to chickens. We have had chickens for a few years for pets and eggs. This year we decided to try to hatch a few eggs for fun. After reading about how to use incubators we decided to let a hen do the work. My friend gave me a "Broody" hen. Whe tried to introduce her to the flock and they tried to kill her. Now she is in my office on a bed of shavings in a crate. I was told she is an older hen but still lays a random egg. She is so broody that she wont even leave the eggs for food and water so they have to be very close to her. So far she is eating and drinking well. We put 3 newly layed eggs under her this morning. Now what?

Melanie

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