Egg hatching! Help please.

[TXmama4boys]

Hello! I am taking care of my sister's chickens while she is at camp for the week and today is day 23 that one of her broody hens has been sitting on 3 eggs. She is in a nesting box about 4 1/2 ft off of the ground. One of the chicks is chirping and the egg is slowly being pecked open. The other 2 are silent, so I am not sure if those eggs will hatch. There are 13 other hens in the coop and 1 rooster. What should I do? Leave the mama and hatching chick be? Put them aside in the kennel we have on stand-by? Please advise and thank you so much!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Why a hen was left to brood 4 feet off the ground begs a question. Due to their present height they have to be moved. You might as well put them in the kennel. If you can't remove the nesting box from wall put the nest in a box on the ground in the kennel.

 

[lazy gardener]

In the good old days, hens often went broody up in the hay loft. Their chicks hatched. Mama flew down, and told the chicks to jump... and they jumped. They bounced b/c there was a soft layer of hay to land on. I'd suggest at this late date that to interfere may do more harm than good. I'd just put a very soft landing spot under that nest box, and let nature take it's course. if you happen to be around when she'd making an exit plan, you could help the chicks down, but she may do just fine all by herself. I'd be concerned that interference may alter her mothering responses.

 

[WVduckchick]

Have to agree with lazy gardener on this one. This close to hatching time, I wouldn't want momma to walk off because of being moved.

 

[TXmama4boys]

Okay, thank you for responses. 1 chick has hatched. It is under mama with the 2 other eggs. I will create a safe landing spot. What about the other chickens? Will the check be safe around them? What about feeding the chick? They are in a coop with a small run, so no free range. I am worried that if I put chick feed out for little one, the other hens will get it. What do you recommend?

 

[SClaire]

Have to agree with lazy gardener on this one. This close to hatching time, I wouldn't want momma to walk off because of being moved.

Yep exactly, best off leaving them be and keep your fingers crossed