Hatching chicks in Nest Box

[BuffOrpington567]

Hi, I was just wondering if it is safe for the chicks to be hatched in a nest box in the chicken house where over chickens are. I'm just wondering if the mother will be able to protect them so they don't get pecked or anything.

 

[Shadrach]

Hi, I was just wondering if it is safe for the chicks to be hatched in a nest box in the chicken house where over chickens are. I'm just wondering if the mother will be able to protect them so they don't get pecked or anything.

They should be fine. Most of the hens here hatch in nest boxes in the coop.
It has some advantages. The mum doesn't have to introduce the chicks to the flock at a later date and this tends to mean the chicks integrate into the flock more easily.
As long as there is sufficient room for the mum and chicks to get a bit of space away from the other chickens when the chicks hatch, this would be my preferred method of hatching all chicks.
Welcome to BYC by the way.

 

[BuffOrpington567]

They should be fine. Most of the hens here hatch in nest boxes in the coop.
It has some advantages. The mum doesn't have to introduce the chicks to the flock at a later date and this tends to mean the chicks integrate into the flock more easily.
As long as there is sufficient room for the mum and chicks to get a bit of space away from the other chickens when the chicks hatch, this would be my preferred method of hatching all chicks.
Welcome to BYC by the way.

Hi, it is a normal sized nest box with only about 30 centimeter gap between each wing to the wall. And the perches are right next to the nest box with a bit of a drop onto the floor at the end of the nest box. So basically they cant leave the rather small nest box for walking round. Will I have to move them once they hatch?

 

[Shadrach]

Hi, it is a normal sized nest box with only about 30 centimeter gap between each wing to the wall. And the perches are right next to the nest box with a bit of a drop onto the floor at the end of the nest box. So basically they cant leave the rather small nest box for walking round. Will I have to move them once they hatch?

Mum probably won't let them leave the nest box for the first couple of days. After that the chicks will explore the coop. It's the size of the coop that could be important. I assume the other hens leave the coop and use a run, or free range in the morning when you open them up (?)

 

[BuffOrpington567]

Mum probably won't let them leave the nest box for the first couple of days. After that the chicks will explore the coop. It's the size of the coop that could be important. I assume the other hens leave the coop and use a run, or free range in the morning when you open them up (?)

The other 3 chickens spend most their time inside the house. All im concerned about is if the other chickens will peck the chicks as the perch is right next to the nest box.?

 

[HeiHeisMom]

I have all the same questions.
Plus we just added six Guinea pullets to coop.
All except broody and Guineas leave coop in morning and free range until dusk, only wandering into coop for water during heat of day...sometimes they just hang out on back porch around dog's water bowl.
Guineas are just 12 weeks and only day three with us so I hate to let them out just yet. Was planning on letting them out in a day or two, but wondering if I should go ahead and let them out... Afraid they'll go after hatchlings...

 

[Shadrach]

The other 3 chickens spend most their time inside the house. All im concerned about is if the other chickens will peck the chicks as the perch is right next to the nest box.?

Do you know where the mum is in the pecking order?
Junior hens do sometimes have problems with aggressive senior hens but what happens here is the junior hens avoid the more senior and keep the chicks under their wing when the senior hen is around.
Most of the time there aren't any real problems.

 

[BuffOrpington567]

Do you know where the mum is in the pecking order?
Junior hens do sometimes have problems with aggressive senior hens but what happens here is the junior hens avoid the more senior and keep the chicks under their wing when the senior hen is around.
Most of the time there aren't any real problems.

I think she is the top of the pecking order apart from the cockerel.

 

[Shadrach]

I have all the same questions.
Plus we just added six Guinea pullets to coop.
All except broody and Guineas leave coop in morning and free range until dusk, only wandering into coop for water during heat of day...sometimes they just hang out on back porch around dog's water bowl.
Guineas are just 12 weeks and only day three with us so I hate to let them out just yet. Was planning on letting them out in a day or two, but wondering if I should go ahead and let them out... Afraid they'll go after hatchlings...

I have no experience with Guinea fowl I'm afraid.

 

[BuffOrpington567]

I have no experience with Guinea fowl I'm afraid.

Me neither, I always found them to loud lol