Broody hen help!!

[farmgirl216]

I'm fairly new to the chicken world and I have raised many chicks myself but I had a hen laying eggs while my last batch in the incubator was still there. I figured I'd wait and see if she would sit on them and raise them. Well yesterday they hatched and she's been an awesome broody hen!! I took the rooster out immediately upon realizing the hatch. Now she's in there just her and the chicks. In her pen she has a bucket which she used as her nest, it's about 2 to 3 feet off the ground. I was wondering if she will get the chicks out herself or if I need to take them out and move the bucket on the ground or just make a nest on the ground? Do I need to place chick starter in the little bucket with them (not very much room though) or can she take it from the feeder on the ground up to them? Please help!!!

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I'm fairly new to the chicken world and I have raised many chicks myself but I had a hen laying eggs while my last batch in the incubator was still there. I figured I'd wait and see if she would sit on them and raise them. Well yesterday they hatched and she's been an awesome broody hen!! I took the rooster out immediately upon realizing the hatch. Now she's in there just her and the chicks. In her pen she has a bucket which she used as her nest, it's about 2 to 3 feet off the ground. I was wondering if she will get the chicks out herself or if I need to take them out and move the bucket on the ground or just make a nest on the ground? Do I need to place chick starter in the little bucket with them (not very much room though) or can she take it from the feeder on the ground up to them? Please help!!!

Sounds like you need to add someting bigger for all of them to fit in.. ground level as well.
WELCOME TO BYC!

 

[farmgirl216]

Sounds like you need to add someting bigger for all of them to fit in.. ground level as well.
WELCOME TO BYC!
View attachment 1116165

Okay I may try that! I have tote which they could all fit and place it on the ground (I raised my chicks in it). Would this work? Do I need to put the feeder in the tote with them or outside of it?

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Okay I may try that! I have tote which they could all fit and place it on the ground (I raised my chicks in it). Would this work? Do I need to put the feeder in the tote with them or outside of it?

i would keep it close to the area. They really don't need feed for the first day or so. I feed my chicks on the third day. But supply water on day one. They need started feed btw.. not egg maker.

 

[farmgirl216]

i would keep it close to the area. They really don't need feed for the first day or so. I feed my chicks on the third day. But supply water on day one. They need started feed btw.. not egg maker.

Yes, I have a bag of chick started from my month old chicks I recently hatched in an incubator. i will get on that immediately! Thanks so much

 

[Naser]

Just be sure they have a water container they couldn't drown in it, the rooster shouldn't harm the chicks, if he did, he shouldn't be your rooster, as a role of thumb: Murphy's law works well with chicks: if there is a way they can hurt themselves or get into troubles they will, vertical nipple drinkers are very good for newly hatched chicks, they go straight to it.

 

[farmgirl216]

Just be sure they have a water container they couldn't drown in it, the rooster shouldn't harm the chicks, if he did, he shouldn't be your rooster, as a role of thumb: Murphy's law works well with chicks: if there is a way they can hurt themselves or get into troubles they will, vertical nipple drinkers are very good for newly hatched chicks, they go straight to it.

I have just bought a nipple drinker! The reason I was worried the rooster would harm them is because he is a game rooster and she is a game hen. They were given to me because there owner had passed away and they were going to just let them loose.

 

[azygous]

Here's what my broody nest looks like. It's on the floor. Baby chicks lack wings so they can't hop any higher than a couple inches for the first few days. Once they start getting some wing feather growth, around the fifth day or so, they then can get a bit more "lift". But they won't be able the do three feet until after three or four weeks.

 

[farmgirl216]

Here's what my broody nest looks like. It's on the floor. Baby chicks lack wings so they can't hop any higher than a couple inches for the first few days. Once they start getting some wing feather growth, around the fifth day or so, they then can get a bit more "lift". But they won't be able the do three feet until after three or four weeks.View attachment 1116646 View attachment 1116647

Okay awesome! I have it fixed now Something like that actually I whipped up really quick! The reason we had just a bucket which was big enough for the hen and she had quite a bit of space to move around in up so high was so nothing would get the eggs, I had originally just went out there everyday/ every other day (whenever she laid) and got her egg. It was never meant as a brooder for her but my incubator was full, so I just let her keep laying and she started sitting on them so I didn't wanna bother her! Thanks so much for the help

 

[RAsChickens]

Attach a 2x4 to the front of it to keep them in.