Broody alert!

[RDchicken99]

Hiya BYC! I’m ecstatic to say I have my first broody hen! She is surprisingly one of my Polish Crested, I would expect one of my Orps to go broody first to be honest. She has been broody for the past three days, so I put some eggs under her for her to try and hatch. The only thing is that she’s in one of the second story nesting boxes, so I’m a bit worried that (if she does successfully hatch chicks) when they hatch, they would fall and hurt themselves. I’m considering putting a ladder up to the box so she could climb down. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[sourland]

Allow her to incubate there. Make sure other hens are not bothering her/adding eggs to her clutch. Around day 20 put a wire across the front of the box, and remove the hen and chicks once the hatch is completed.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Hiya BYC! I’m ecstatic to say I have my first broody hen! She is surprisingly one of my Polish Crested, I would expect one of my Orps to go broody first to be honest. She has been broody for the past three days, so I put some eggs under her for her to try and hatch. The only thing is that she’s in one of the second story nesting boxes, so I’m a bit worried that (if she does successfully hatch chicks) when they hatch, they would fall and hurt themselves. I’m considering putting a ladder up to the box so she could climb down. Any ideas? Thanks!

How'd it go?

 

[RDchicken99]

How'd it go?

All three babies are still alive and well! We got them back into the coop and kept it shut for a couple of days so they could adjust. The flock has always been on all flock so that won’t be a problem.