First timers hatching eggs with a broody. Lots of questions

[PaintedMeadows]

3 weeks ago on Mother's day a fox killed 9 of our hens and our rooster. Such a very sad time for us. We only have 2 hens left and 1 was very broody so we gave her 9 mixed eggs. She is due to hatch 21 days on saturday. Now I guess we didn't think things through very well and I hope I haven't created a problem. She is in a nesting box about 3 1/2 feet above the ground. Is that too high for her to hatch the chicks in? Should we take the chicks away from her and raise them seperate? Should we make her a nest on the ground? What do we do? HELP!! Today is wednesday so we only have a few days. We do have a big or should I say GIANT dog kennel that we could put her and the chicks in if you think it is best. I look forward to any help you can give us.

 

[racuda]

Let her hatch where she wants to. After 24 hours or so she will jump down and call them. They will hop out, unharmed. If one or two are too chicken to jump, set them down.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Is she in a box? I'd try to move the nest to ground/floor level.

A dog kennel might have holes that are big enough for chicks to squeeze through. This was our first time with a broody, and the brooder coop has 1" x 2" squares of welded wire. The chicks are regularly popping out away from mom and we have to catch them and put them back.

So sorry for your loss- hope you get some beautiful babies to get the flock going again!

 

[jkm]

you can look at my post, just hatching in a dog crate in the kitchen, all is well right now

advice needed, mom in crate in kitchen three live chicks

help, hold my hand, broody with eggs chirping in the kitchen
good luck

 

[PaintedMeadows]

She is in a nesting box that is attached to the wall and consists of 6 attached together so no moving them down. The dog kennel has large holes in the gate part but we have screening we can cover it with. We have to screen the bottom of the run anyways. She is in the coop with our only other remaining hen that is an EE. Will it be a problem having them together? Like I said, should have thought of this stuff earlier. The dog kennel is one of those giant ones as we have a Great Dane so you can imagine how big it is. But are we safe moving the eggs or should we wait until they hatch? Or should we just leave it as things are and let her look after them? Will they stay with her pretty good? Or are they happy wanderers? When we got our first chicks they were 2 days old and there were 25 of them. We had them in the heated coop under lights etc. I am assuming Mom will do a good job of making sure they stay warm etc. Oh the stresses. lol. I am also on marestare at the same time so pretty tired and punch drunk now. 1 miniature foal on the ground and 4 more to go. WHEEEEEEEEE

 

[Lollipop]

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

 

[Marlinchaser]

do you have a way of screening the nest box, so nothing can fall out, once the babies start hatching mom will not leave the box anyway, so block everyone in for 2 days, the chicks and mom will be fine, after 2 days any that do not hatch probably would not have hatched anyway, at that time move the whole group to the kennel. You can try to move the eggs too, but most times after a couple days my broodies will stop sitting on the eggs and move on to raising thier chicks.

 

[PaintedMeadows]

Thank you for the great article and input everyone. I think we will screen her box off and then move them after. Seems safer to me. She is a real sweetheart and is my daughter's hen so she should be fairly easy to handle all things considered. So saturday is 21 days does that mean I should start checking tomorrow which would be 19 days?

 

[Marlinchaser]

Quote:
I dont bother mine, if your letting them out daily, mine seem to know(mother instinct I guess) and will not get off the nest. Like an incubator, I would leave her alone you will here the peeping for couple days, most likely chicks will come out from under her( to make an appearance ) after they are dried, and to test mothers nerves so she can yell at them to get back under her.

 

[PaintedMeadows]

Do you think the chicks can go up the ramp to the nests after an outing? I guess we will watch, wait and see. I am at home so I will watch closely. Thanks for the help!