1st hatch, hatched today!! Questions....& Video

[SEALLIN]

My broody banty has been setting on fertile eggs and I was anticipating a hatch on Sunday or Monday however they came early! I went to check on mama this morning and saw two fuzzy butts and a still wet baby.
Since then, all four have hatched and are fuzzy and peeping and staying under mama.
I have a brooder box set up outside in the run and part of the run sectioned off. I thought I would move mom and babies if there were problems with my other two hens.
The 2 other hens have seen the chicks and dont seem a bit interested in mom or babies. That's a good thing right?

Should I go ahead and seperate them tonight or let mama do her thing and only interviene if there's a problem?

I'm so terrified! I was a nervous wreck during waiting for the hatch and now that it's over I'm so afraid the babies will get hurt, or attacked....

Is it safe to just keep a close watch or should I separate them right away?

Also, what happens to the hatched egg shells? Does mom eat them? I only see 2 halves left of four eggs. I left them with her, is that ok? Should I remove remaining shells in the am?

thanks!
Sara

Here is a youtube link to mama and babies:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkpjAnRcwcQ

(sorry about my spelling! im in a hurry and didnt spell check)

 

[SEALLIN]

FYI: I'm in Missouri and it's about to storm pretty badly. Any help would be appreciated!!!

 

[Georgia Boy 1970]

As long as they are with the mama they should be alright. But sometimes you will have broody hens that are not good to their babies. But just watch her with them and be ready to take them if she abandons them,or doesn't show any interest in them.I seen your video and she seems like a good mama. She should be fine. But I would remove the mama and babies from the rest of the flock. The other chickens might attack and kill the babies.

 

[SEALLIN]

Thank you for responding! I read on here you should move them at night so they arent as startled. So I will plan on moving them tomorrow night unless there's a problem tomorrow with the other hens. Unless you or others chime in and dont think it will matter when they are moved.
How high off the ground should the brooder box be? I dont want the chicks getting stuck outside. It's a huge rubbermaid tub with window screens and a door. Its big enough for the whole nest box and both the chick feeder and waterer.
If I set it up on bricks off the ground will that be suffecient?

Also, should I change the nest bedding? There are still eggshell peices all around, will they start to smell?

Oh and how long will mama and babies sleep together in the nest? The brooder doesnt have a perch so I'm not sure when to allow them all access to the main coop....

 

[Georgia Boy 1970]

The rubbermaid tub will be fine for the hen and the chicks. Just as long it placed somewhere predators could get to it. Moving them at night is also fine. When I take chicks out of the incubator moving them to the brooder, I've moved them in the mornings before I leave for work,in the afternoons and at night,and I have had no problem. Also the hen will leave the nest when she gets ready. Good luck

 

[SEALLIN]

Thanks again! I ended up needing to move them this afternoon. Mama was in the favorite nesting box and the BR kept knocking down the partition I put up trying to get into the nest. There werent any issues when the chicks were around the other hens but I moved them all anyway since it made me nervous to have them all together.
They settled in nicely and when I went to close the main coop mama and babies were in the nest tucked away for the night. They had been out of the nest in the coop and in the brooder most of the day.
Mama taught them how to eat and drink and they are a blast to watch.

Sorry for blabbing on and onm im just so excited and want things to continue to go well!