Broody and chicks won’t leave the nest box

CrashingPines

Songster
6 Years
Mar 31, 2019
50
69
136
I had a big learning curve when a young pullet I had purchased last Fall went super broody. This site has been of course a huge help!
The hen is an Orpington and began on two eggs, one not her own. So I moved her to her own condo and gave her those, and nine others I had kept on a counter in the house for several days.
She stayed broody. I got her off the nest for 15 minutes a day for food and water and humongous dumps. On days 10 and 12, I candled the eggs. I watched YouTube videos, read everything I could here, and I still couldn’t see a thing. But I figured it wouldn’t hurt to let her ride it out. I didn’t know if my rooster was fertile. I thought the eggs that had been in the house for probably duds (at least eight days there.)

WELL, Lady Sith has hatched nine chicks over the past two days. She hates my guts, so it’s taken some time for me to observe this.

now there are eggshells, chicks and a yucky smell under her but she won’t leave the box willingly. I’ve got chick starter and a chick waterer set out near the box, and everyone looks amazingly perky and healthy (except her). One tumbled out on its own and while she clucked softly at it and told it to “get back here!” She didn’t move, so I carefully put it back in with her.

With everyone hatched, will she get them out and fed and watered? I really want to clean the nest box. Thanks for any insight!

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I think that if all the eggshells are gone she should take them to the water and food but i’m not sure🤔

Very cute chicks though! Maybe try moving them to the water and she will follow to protect them?
X2
also if its that bad, you might want to just pick her and her chicks up, move them to a safe quiet location and clean the box, if you leave them they might get sick! Doing this will also make sure the chicks get some food, especially if the mom isn't bringing them to the food they might not know where to find it.
 
Usually they take them off the nest by day 3-4.

Since the nest is a gross mess right now I would be inclined to set her and the kids in a clean tote with nest materials while I cleaned the nest up then put her back.

Chicks absorb the yolk shortly before hatching so are good for a few days on that.
 

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