Finally got a broody!

[CoopCop]

I had a partridge Plymouth Rock go broody last Thursday and I have her on 14 eggs. My concern is that her nesting box is about two and a half feet off the floor of the coop. Would it be best to move her and the eggs to a nest at ground level or just let her stay put? So far the other hens aren't bothering her much, and four other nesting boxes are available for them. All thoughts welcome on this.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

I had a partridge Plymouth Rock go broody last Thursday and I have her on 14 eggs. My concern is that her nesting box is about two and a half feet off the floor of the coop. Would it be best to move her and the eggs to a nest at ground level or just let her stay put? So far the other hens aren't bothering her much, and four other nesting boxes are available for them. All thoughts welcome on this.

Yes, move it lower for when the chicks hatch. Unless you create a 'porch' and fence it in. I don't just box in the box as mine aren't very big for a chicken family, so I do create a 'porch', but find just putting on ground level is less work. Make sure the other hens can't reach her wherever she is at.

14 eggs is a lot (unless they are bantam), I would watch and make sure they aren't too much for her.

 

[bobbi-j]

They'll be fine. You might want to make sure there is a "lip" on the front of the nest box so that when they hatch, one doesn't accidentally fall out and be unable to get back in. I have let my hens hatch out in nest boxes about that high off the ground. Once the chicks hatch, the mama will stay on the nest for a day or so to make sure that all the eggs that are going to hatch have done so. I usually move mama and babies to the ground 24 hours or so after hatching.