Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: tasha090505 on May 06, 2011, 12:39

Title: What have you moved your broody hen into?
Post by: tasha090505 on May 06, 2011, 12:39: Was just wondering what you've used to house your broody hen, we've only the one coop, but I'm considering moving her - to what I don't know! Possibly looking at a hutch - would this work?

Any other suggestions?
Title: Re: What have you moved your broody hen into?
Post by: evie2 on May 06, 2011, 14:06: A rabbit hutch is fine :D ours is in a pyramid type coop Eils built for her.

A basic 2ft square box, plenty of floor room with a large door in the side and a small door to the front. She's sitting there watching the world go by, quite happy :D
Title: Re: What have you moved your broody hen into?
Post by: Kenilworth on May 06, 2011, 15:29: We used a small guinea pig hutch, seemed to do the job.............One thing i was told was to make sure that there was plenty of air flow cos one of the main points is to try and cool the hen down? How true this is i'm not sure
Title: Re: What have you moved your broody hen into?
Post by: wildy78 on May 07, 2011, 16:40: I have used an old 2ft x 1ft tea chest. Mom and 6 chicks all more than happy. I have cut a door and hinged it and put in a vent covered with weld mesh. All will be moved in a few of weeks into a coop for 7 hens and will stay there.
Title: Re: What have you moved your broody hen into?
Post by: Sassy on May 08, 2011, 09:10: A suitable broody coop is limited only by your imagination :) Good luck
Title: Re: What have you moved your broody hen into?
Post by: joyfull on May 08, 2011, 09:30: I have two in clumps of nettles, 1 in a wooden ark (with 4 hatched chicks) and 3 in cat boxes in a tin shed. When these have hatched their eggs the 3 can stay in the shed with a run attached to it. The 2 in the nettles will be placed in a huge plastic ark and run attached unless I can buy some smaller plastic arks in the meantime :)
Title: Re: What have you moved your broody hen into?
Post by: evie2 on May 08, 2011, 11:01: When you see where nature takes them to brood, you realise, as long as it feels safe and is cosy, you don't have to go to any great lengths to provide a suitable place :D
Title: Re: What have you moved your broody hen into?
Post by: tesni on May 08, 2011, 13:27: Assuming you are letting her hatch eggs rather than trying to cool her off and 'break' her broodiness - that is a whole other type of broody accommodation :)
Title: Re: What have you moved your broody hen into?
Post by: hillfooter on May 08, 2011, 14:44: Quote from: Kenilworth on May 06, 2011, 15:29
We used a small guinea pig hutch, seemed to do the job.............One thing i was told was to make sure that there was plenty of air flow cos one of the main points is to try and cool the hen down? How true this is i'm not sure

I think your wires are crossed here it's only necessary to cool down a broody if you want to stop her from being broody. Not if you want her to hatch eggs.

Just make sure its secure, been treated for Red Mite and is FLAT at ground level so the chicks won't fall out or get trapped and be unable to get under Mum. An attached run is useful and it need only be small. It can be a temporary structure made from mesh panels formed into a triangular tent type structure held together with cord or preferably bungees.

(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m491/hillfooter/Chicken%20Chat%20posts/IsabellaAnastasiaChicks.jpg)

(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m491/hillfooter/Chicken%20Chat%20posts/Anastasiafeedingherchicks.jpg)

HF
Title: Re: What have you moved your broody hen into?
Post by: Kenilworth on May 09, 2011, 10:14: oops sorry guys seems i got the wrong end of the stick there ;) :nowink: :wacko: