First time broody hen, need advise

[aizarra]

Hi everyone. I have a hen that went broody a few weeks ago. This is a first for her and me. I know she has eggs under her, but I haven't been able to check. She packs hard if I try to get near. Hatching should happen sometime this week based on my calculations. So, I have a few questions to say the least.
1. In the last 3 weeks I've never seen her leave the nest box for food/water. I started giving food, water to her and placing it just in front of her box. Is that ok? Is it normal for them to never get up?
2. My coop is high off the ground, about 3-4 feet. How are the babies going to handle that? Should I try to move her and babies to an enclosed area just outside the coop in the run area? Note, I don't let the chickens free range as in I'm in a neighborhood and we have predators.

Feeling overwhelmed now and not sure what to do. Thanks for any advise.

 

[BirdGirl2004]

Take a deep breath... Mama hen will take care of it all ( most of it )

Lucky you... you have a hen that actually wants to sit... lol ( mine literally NEVER do )
In the last week they will not get off the eggs nearly as much... this is normal. Just make sure she has enough food and water.
If I were you, I would move the hens and eggs at night ( so she doesn't terrorize you ) into a safe place where they can't plummet to there death. This way other chickens can't get into the chicks either. Make sure the run in closed off from the other birds, and place feeders and waters, and a hospitable place for chicks to live and thrive.

From here, just overlook mama hen, and make sure everything is going well. She will know how to take care of them... it's in their nature!

Hope this helps!

Good luck, don't forget to post lots of pictures, we'd love to see them!

 

[aizarra]

Thanks. I’m going to go out today and set up a closed in area for her on the ground. I hope I can get her to move. She won’t budge when I try to see what she’s sitting on.

 

[aizarra]

Ok need help. Spent half day setting up my other smaller coop that is attached to the larger one. The others are closed off from it. So I move mama and eggs and she won’t go in the new best! She’s just scratching around it for now. I did see her turn and look in so I think she sees the eggs. Will she eventually go in and sit on them? How long should I wait till I worry? It’s been about 20 mins now
Thanks

 

[aizarra]

 

[aizarra]

Well it’s getting dark now and she still won’t go in the new nest. I’ve tried coaxing her in but no luck. Oh well don’t know what else to do. I guess the eggs won’t hatch now. Bummed.

 

[Barbs Girls]

I have no experience with this. So sorry! Do you have an incubator?

 

[dotporter]

Put her and the eggs back into the original spot and she may go back to sitting. It might not be too late if it was hot out today.

 

[dunnmom]

I agree they may still hatch providing the weather is warm, as long as she gets back on them. If she's sitting on the ground in her new pen, try putting a little bedding and the eggs under her where she is now, or you could sit them right by her, and she may roll them up under her body herself.

 

[Kfults]

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