Chick rearing under a broody hen

Broody coop from recycled materials and chicken wire. Triangle size about 500mm per side by 550mm long

Nest created inside the coop using turf (for the edges) and soil to make a smooth depression to hold the eggs, lined with a little straw.  I put a water and grain container inside the coop for the broody hen. A hen going broody will defend the nest box in the henhouse - growling and pecking at you when you try to collect the eggs!
Put her on her eggs in the late evening (a good hen should walk onto the eggs when she sees them).  Open the door into her run once a day for her to stretch her legs etc. When the chicks hatch (about 21 days), keep them with their mother away from the rest of the flock, feed them on a little mashed hard boiled egg and oatmeal at first.

A useful link

 

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