Due tomorrow, I think Ive done the wrong thing!Help Please

[Louise2]

Nesting box off the ground about 40cms, How do the babys get on the ground? Wont they break a leg or some thing?Can I move mum and eggs to floor? What if it rains? They will get wet. Thought nothing off getting fertilised eggs for my silly little silky but after reading this most excellent informative and very funny web site think maybe should have just brought eggs when silkies are broody (all the time!) Any advise appreciated.

 

[BamaChicken]

Wait till they hatch to move them. They won't get out of the box for a few days. You could move the whole family to dry enviroment.

 

[TheNewMrsEvans]

or maybe make them a ramp! You'll have to use rough wood so the peepers could walk back up...

 

[Louise2]

Thankyou. I was starting to feel quite sick! I didnt put much thought into this whole thing. Hopefully they wont fall out.

 

[Louise2]

Ramp! Excellent idea. I will do that now! Thanks again

 

[shelleyd2008]

They shouldn't have any trouble getting down, the biggest problem they will have is getting back up! I second the ramp idea. My game hen had her baby roosting in the barn rafters at about 2 weeks old, since there is a ladder standing up in there! That little baby just hops right up the rungs!

 

[Louise2]

Ramp done. I feel a lot better, thanks. The babies should be a lot smarter than their mum because they are ordinary chickens. Took me 4 months to teach mum how to get on her roost! So now I wait to see if they hatch! I hope for her sake they do, she is a VERY determined waana be mum. Think it will do her head in if babies dont hatch. fingers crossed for her. Thanks for your replies much appreciated. Happy New Year from Mackay, QLD, Auzzie

 

[PortageGirl]

hehe,, believe it or not, fluffie little butts bounce very well. Not saying you shouldn't make arrangements when you can, but if you hadn't gotten to it, they sort of poof down, and scramble off quite well. I'm thinking they won't be able to add the 2+2 to figure out that the ramp is 4 getting back up to the nest... but mama will take care of them, so just don't stress!!!

Their little bodies are SO light, and their poofy little feathers offer such cushion that they really just kind of 'floof'! and there they are on the floor!

 

[Smartie_Pants]

Even if they do jump out, they will probably be fine. We watched a Planet Earth episode in AG one day and there was a part about forest animals. The wild mallards there make their nest way up high in hollow trees and the babies actually jump out and fall to get to the ground. That's how nature does it, and I'm sure 40 cm is NOTHING compared to 40 feet!