Food/water setup

[KellyG8]

Hi! I recently received 6 fertilized eggs for my broody buff Orpington. I have never hatched before, but this girl is determined! I’m planning to let her hatch in a nesting box, which is maybe an inch or two higher than the coop floor. The coop itself is a few feet off the ground and the hens use a wooden ramp. Right now, my broody knows her food and water are just below the ramp.

My question (which I’m almost afraid to ask) is - when the chicks hatch in the coop, what is your set up like inside? I don’t see day old chicks going down the ramp to eat/drink. It’s not the biggest coop in the world, so have feed and water right next to the nest would probably get messy with the other hens coming in/out and roosting. I’ve read about moving mom and her eggs when we get closer to our expected hatch date, but I’m just curious how those of you who let them stay inside the coop from day 1 make this happen. Thanks for your help!

 

[FortCluck]

They are good for 3 days without food and water after hatching. Then they will make their way down the ramp. I had a 2 day old going down our ramp the other day with its mother hen.

I do not move my broodies (personal preference) because it can disturb them to much and they may stop sitting on the eggs. Again that is my personal preference on movie a broody, I have plenty of nesting boxes for my girls and other copps so if a few nesting boxes are taken by broodies they are okay.

The Hen will show her chick what it needs to do including going up and down the ramp. It will show the chick where the waterer and food is. They are quite amazing to watch.

Here are some articles on Broodies:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-letting-broody-hens-hatch-and-raise-chicks.65989/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/broody-hens.48666/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/caring-for-broodys.69912/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...lete-guide-to-dealing-with-broody-hens.63024/

 

[Parront]

Hi! I recently received 6 fertilized eggs for my broody buff Orpington. I have never hatched before, but this girl is determined! I’m planning to let her hatch in a nesting box, which is maybe an inch or two higher than the coop floor. The coop itself is a few feet off the ground and the hens use a wooden ramp. Right now, my broody knows her food and water are just below the ramp.

My question (which I’m almost afraid to ask) is - when the chicks hatch in the coop, what is your set up like inside? I don’t see day old chicks going down the ramp to eat/drink. It’s not the biggest coop in the world, so have feed and water right next to the nest would probably get messy with the other hens coming in/out and roosting. I’ve read about moving mom and her eggs when we get closer to our expected hatch date, but I’m just curious how those of you who let them stay inside the coop from day 1 make this happen. Thanks for your help!

I would take her out of the community nest box and put her in a separate crate with her own food and water. Maybe have a little run next to the big run so she can see her flock-mates.

 

[KellyG8]

They are good for 3 days without food and water after hatching. Then they will make their way down the ramp. I had a 2 day old going down our ramp the other day with its mother hen.

I do not move my broodies (personal preference) because it can disturb them to much and they may stop sitting on the eggs. Again that is my personal preference on movie a broody, I have plenty of nesting boxes for my girls and other copps so if a few nesting boxes are taken by broodies they are okay.

The Hen will show her chick what it needs to do including going up and down the ramp. It will show the chick where the waterer and food is. They are quite amazing to watch.

Here are some articles on Broodies:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-letting-broody-hens-hatch-and-raise-chicks.65989/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/broody-hens.48666/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/caring-for-broodys.69912/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...lete-guide-to-dealing-with-broody-hens.63024/

Thanks for your reply! I didn’t realize that they don’t need food/water for three days! You would recommend at least a smaller waterer for the chicks near the hens typical waterer, right?

 

[KellyG8]

I would take her out of the community nest box and put her in a separate crate with her own food and water. Maybe have a little run next to the big run so she can see her flock-mates.

Thanks for your reply! Would you make this move early or after they hatch?

 

[Parront]

Thanks for your reply! Would you make this move early or after they hatch?

Myself, I want to see if she keeps sitting after I move her, so I move her and then put some dummy eggs, or eggs I do not care about, and see how she does. Some will move, some will not. If not, I would like to know before the time for hatching!