broody hen with others

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Hi, I am new to all this. Can someone help me please? Last summer my partner decided to get chickens. We have 3 hens and 1 cockerel. One of our hens has gone broody and is sitting on 6 eggs. We didn’t really know what we were doing so left her to it. Now I am concerned. I have read that it takes approx 21 days, she has been sitting for 14 days. My concern is should I be separating her and the eggs from the other 2 hens and cockerel? I am concerned that if we don’t the others may affect the hatching of the eggs? can someone help as I don’t know what to do?
Thank you
Wendy :(
 
Hi Wendy, i take it she is sitting in your coop that the other hens and cockerel live in? Do the other hens lay in her nest box? or elsewhere? do you know if she is top hen? Ideally you would set her on eggs in her own coop- away from the others but as she has been sitting two weeks and you have had no problems, if the others are not laying in with her , i would leave her until the chicks hatch- then you must move her- to a broody coop or a shed etc- leaving her in there is not a good idea once the chicks hatch. Move her and her chicks to their own quarters - and have a low, shallow drinker and chick crumbs ready- no other food for mum, just chick crumbs. Hope this helps. :)
regards, David :)
 
Thanks David, the others dont seem bothered by her at the moment, we have got one of the omlet houses and have ddapted the inside slightly so the others can still lay their eggs. We will wait and see what happens then, I just wasnt sure if to move her before they hatch. She is currently coming out once a day for food and water, will this stop? if so what do you suggest I do as there is not any way of putting food and water near her?
Thanks :)
 
Hi wendy- she will come out everyday to clean herself, feed and drink up until the day they start pipping- then she will sit tight until they are hatched- this can take two days, she will be fine - she will not die of thirst of starve- when the chicks are hatched and fluffed up she will bring them off - that's when to move them if you can- even a part of a garage/shed- with a few wood shavings and food and water will do-Just keep an eye out on hatching day if you are around- to make sure the other hens don't harm the chicks- the cock will not bother them-
regards, David :)
 
Thank you so much, I am so glad I have found this forum, I feel so much better about it all now, I will let you know what happens.
Thanks again David. :D
 
Unfortunately no chicks. :( All eggs have now been disposed of. However the broody hen is still sitting even though there are no eggs for her to sit on. What should I do with her? Any advise would be greatfully received.
Thanks
 
Hi, you need to try and break her broodiness- try locking her out of the house during the day- as long as she has access to food/water/shelter- you may need to do this for a week or two :( just let her in at night to sleep- or lock her in the run during the day.
regards, David :)
 
Thanks for the advice David, if i lock her out of the hen house the others cant get in either, will they go off and find somewhere else to lay their eggs? I unfortunately dont have a seperate run that I can put her in at the moment.
Thanks
 
Hi, enen a dog crate/cage- will do for a few days- if you leave her she will just sit -and if you have no other run/coop then the others will not get in to lay-even a garage or shed etc will do.
regards, David :)
 
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