A few questions..

[Clover8Flora]

How long after the chicks hatch can I move mum and baby's to the bottom of the coop?

Do I put the old bedding in the new box or will they be happy with a new clean bed?

I'll be removing the ladder and shutting the main nesting area and giving them a cat box as a nest on ground level is this ok?

It's day 21 and I know at least one is hatched, how long do I leave and other eggs before assuming they won't hatch and removing them?

When can I expect hen and chicks to start leaving the nesting box?

Sorry for all the questions I'm a little over excited / anxious etc x

 

[Nocila]

Hens will generally stay on the nest for 2-3 days after the first one has hatched, then they'll move their chicks to the ground. If a chick falls from the nest, then mamma will generally move down to the fallen chick, and expect the other chicks to follow, but other than that, she'll stay on the nest until she's ready to move.

When you do move the hen and her chicks to the ground, I'd give her new bedding, personally.

Enjoy your new babies! ^_^

 

[Clover8Flora]

Hens will generally stay on the nest for 2-3 days after the first one has hatched, then they'll move their chicks to the ground. If a chick falls from the nest, then mamma will generally move down to the fallen chick, and expect the other chicks to follow, but other than that, she'll stay on the nest until she's ready to move.

When you do move the hen and her chicks to the ground, I'd give her new bedding, personally.

Enjoy your new babies! ^_^

Thanks, I've decided to have a nesting box made that can go downstairs in the run so I don't need to worry about the ladder. It should be ready for the weekend so I'll leave them locked in the coop until then just to be safe. I'll add new bedding too.