Broody nest too high??

[chick inn]

My bantam has created a nest in a little nook of my coop, 4' off the ground. I think once the chicks hatch they will be ok for a few days (they won't be able to fall out), but there is no room for me to put a feeder/waterer for the chicks. Will the mom be supplying the chicks herself? Should I move the nest once they hatch? I moved her nest one time, before they hatched, and she abandoned them
If I move everyone after they hatch, should I keep them in a large cage (w food/water) so my other lf hens/Roos don't pick on them?? How long should I keep them caged for??
They are due to hatch any day now...

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've seen a hen get her chicks out of a 10' high hay loft. She said jump and they did. As long as the nest is such that they are not likely to fall out, Mam should be able to handle it.

 

[chick inn]

I've seen a hen get her chicks out of a 10' high hay loft. She said jump and they did. As long as the nest is such that they are not likely to fall out, Mam should be able to handle it.

Thanks- I know in nature they don't have a pesky human questioning their every move. I just get worried. I'd hate to see something bad happen that I could have prevented....

 

[Ridgerunner]

I was in a rush in my other post but I'm back. There are two conditions that I'd worry about a nest not being suitable for a broody hen to hatch in. It needs enough of a lip so the chicks don't just crawl out. It doesn't take a lot but it does need a lip.

Also if the nest is so small the hen is sitting real close tot he edge you can have problems. The first chicks to hatch often climb up on Mama's back. If Mama is sitting right next to the edge the chick might fall out of the nest entirely when it falls off. I had that happen when I let a broody hatch in a cat litter bucket, the bucket the litter comes in not the litter bin the cat uses. It's only about 9-1/2" wide so the hen was right next to the side. When the chicks fell off of her they missed the nest and hit the floor. I picked several chicks up and put them back with Mama, then when the hatch was over I got rid of that nest. That nest was about 3' off the floor. The chick were not hurt at all in that fall.

 

[chick inn]

This is what her nest looks like:

It looks like she laid 1 too many eggs and can't fit them all. The space is about 6"x15" and the edge is about 6" tall so there's no way for the chicks to fall out.

 

[holm25]

She should be fine good luck!!

 

[chick inn]

Ok!! Can't wait for them to hatch!!!!