broody accomodations

[aladatrot]

I have a good sized hen house with a set of commercially made nest boxes (8 individual stalls in the unit) set approximately waist to chest high on my back wall. This set up is convenient for me to harvest eggs, but I have been wanting to let a broody hen hatch and raise a clutch. There is no way for the chicks to get in or out of the nest boxes. I am going to make a nest for a broody hen, but I would like to know how big to make the nest and at what angle the chicks could be expected to climb a ramp to get back in. Should I forget the ramp and make the nest box at ground level?
Thanks!
M

 

[Mrs. K]

I tried making the nest, and my girl would have nothing to do with it, so I left her in the nest box about waist high, she got her chick down, and then built a lower nest on the ground after they were hatched. Later, when they were not very old, she got them all up on top of the nesting boxes. That way she could roost up there, and they could all sneak under her for extra warmth. I could hardly believe it when I first saw them up there.

They are birds, and know more about it that we will ever know. Don't worry too much and let her do it her way is my advice or 2 cents worth. mk

 

[jeslewmazer]

It will be personal preference. I set up breeding pens. I keep my nest boxes low to the ground for broody hens that I also keep in separate pens for chick safety

. I have seen week old chicks in my pecan tree but they did cheat a little by using the fence that was 4-5 feet away from the lowest limb. But high does play a factor the higher up the higher the chance the chicks will break a leg.