- Thread starter
- #22,031
Ditch the sand. Use a section of turf dug out in one solid section roots and all. I tried a 4 inch deep turf section and had earth underneath that and straw on top which the hen could rearrange. That worked well for me in Spain. Many years ago in the UK we had a broody containment area with if my memory serves me 20 or so nest boxes set directly on to the ground (no base). Given the containment area was around 10m by 10 metres inside a secure fenced area rats mice and other ground predators weren't a problem.What changes would you suggest I make?
In Catalonia I went a different route and build small broody coops and runs. I had three going at one point. One such can be seen in the link to the article I posted earlier. I used to keep these open during the day and the chickens came and went, often choosing to lay their eggs in them rather than the nest boxes in the coops. Chickens don't like strange stuff much when it comes to housing. Having what you may want chickens to use at some point open for their inspection and use helps a lot when one wants to use one as a broody coop.
Having a small secure run attatched I found usefull. Mum can bring the chicks onto proper ground as soon as they can stagger out of the coop. Ideally one wants the chicks on proper ground as early as possible. they build some immunity to the local pathogens through early exposure and Mum can show them how to dig and scratch and even dust bathe without leaving the security of the run. It also gives the keeper a chance to watch the chicks in action to check for a ny problems. This can be a major asset to keepers who free range when once the chicks are out of the coop may be very difficult to keep track of.I have built a broody coop which is about 5x5 and has a four inch depth of sand, but again it has hardware cloth underneath. Now that things are arranged differently I can use it for its intended purpose.
Not quite sure what you mean here. As mentioned above I have the broody coops open anyway so they're used to it whether they are going to sit and hatch or not.When should a new broody be introduced to the broody box? I can put her in there without a "nesting box
The times I've had to move a broody hen from an unsafe outside nest site, assuming I've found the nest, I've done it at night once I'm sure she's sitting.
When possible I've waited until the night of day three. Some hens will do a three day sit straight without leaving the nest while they keep the eggs turning to stop the embryo sticking to the inside of the shell. Others take breaks.
I used to go out at night with a good head torch, lift the hen off her nest and hold her in one hand and gather her eggs and place them in a bag I had for this.. I place the eggs in the nest box I want her to sit in and her on top and shut her in. For most a night in the nest box with their eggs is enough to bond them to the new nest, but not always. Sometimes one has to keep putting the hen back on the eggs for the rest of the next day. I think I've only had a couple of broodies who abandoned the new nest out of more than I can recall.