Chicks picking on Mama's eyes?

[WitchChick]

Our "surprise" chicks are now 3 days old, and and we are still waiting for the 3rd egg to hatch. The chicks seem to be doing fine, but I don't see them eating or drinking from the containers. They do pick (or at least it looks to me as if they are) on the Mama's eyes while she is sitting on the egg. I have taken them both and put their beaks in the food & the water dish, thinking they may be thirsty?

Everyone is still in the makeshift nursery. You can see the set up here
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...n-and-they-hatched-the-next-day#post_13623347

 

[Judy]

She should have left the nest and taken them to eat, drink, learn to forage, etc. by now. Yu might have to remove her from the nest, maybe remove the nest or cover it, to swich her into mama mode (hopefully.)

 

[WitchChick]

Oh, she has! Since they are in the coop, we have taken them "out'. Mama clucks and titters, and the chicks are already pretty adventurous. They pick on her when they are back in their nursery, and Mama is sitting on the 3rd egg.