Broody hen with chicks hatching and lots of eggs

[esme13]

A family of mine could use some advice. There polish hen went broody on a huge batch of eggs. They had two chicks emerge today and others peeping. The chicks are in a bad place because they are in a cubby a few feet from the ground. Should she remove the chicks would this cause problems? She has no idea when the eggs were laid and if they will all hatch around the same time.

 

[sawilliams]

Leave the chicks with mom, and give her another day or 2. Hopefully she will continue to tend the eggs at least a few more days. But she will need to teach the babies to forge and find water soon. Moving all the eggs and new chicks to a ground nest will help for a few days, and hopefully get a few more chicks. But eventually the hen will leave the nest to tend the babies. She may need to pick up an incubator or let the other unhatched eggs go to waste.

Perhaps a box that she can put feed and water in for mom and the chicks would help with the move. She needs to be prepared for mom to abandon the eggs.

I would think the nest should be moved soon so babies don't fall of the edge, or at least a 3-4in board placed in front for the day, and try to move the nest at night

 

[Jensownzoo]

I would just make sure there is bedding on the ground in front of the nest. The babies will follow mama hen when called and make the jump--the chance for damage is negligible. Ideally a ground nest should be provided for them to come back to.

 

[donrae]

Leave them alone. A few feet of a drop is nothing to a baby chick. Momma will wait until she thinks everyone is done, then take the chicks from the nest. They'll tumble down and she'll do her momma thing. She'll brood them on the ground after that, not try to get them back to the nest box.

If it was a staggererd clutch, there's a good chance a lot of the eggs won't hatch. Your friend will have to decide if they want to bring the unhatched eggs in and incubate them and brood the chicks themselves, or toss the partially developed eggs.

 

[carlf]

What they said, cant add much other than make sure the have a feeder with chick starter and water available at ground level.
Other than that, let the momma hen handle it.