Help! (Broody hen situation)

[Chookencrazy]

It’s my fault that I didn’t move her from the nesting box to start with!
My nesting boxes are about 50cm off the ground and my hen is not only sitting on eggs anymore as of a few hours ago there’s a (one) little fluffy there too.
1. I’m worried the little one will fall out.
2. Is it to squashed for the hen to look after the little one and stay on the rest of the eggs?
3. Is it too late to move her onto the ground of my coop in a “play pen”?

 

[MarkJr]

Leave her alone. If it makes you feel better, you can put a barrier in front of her to keep them in for the next 24-36 hours. When she comes off the eggs. They will follow her out of nest box and she will make a new nest at ground level.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It’s my fault that I didn’t move her from the nesting box to start with!
My nesting boxes are about 50cm off the ground and my hen is not only sitting on eggs anymore as of a few hours ago there’s a (one) little fluffy there too.
1. I’m worried the little one will fall out.
2. Is it to squashed for the hen to look after the little one and stay on the rest of the eggs?
3. Is it too late to move her onto the ground of my coop in a “play pen”?

Ahh, that's nothing. I had a hen nest up on a haybale once. She didn't lose a chick when flying down somehow

 

[MarkJr]

And to answer the other question. The hen will barely acknowledge the fluffy one until she comes off her nest. The chicks are built to not need food or drink for a day or two as they absorb the rest of the yolk. This gives momma time to hatch out all the eggs possible. She will come off the eggs when the chicks NEED to eat/drink. The unlatched eggs are abandoned at this point. It’s why staggered hatches under a hen are so difficult.

 

[Chookencrazy]

And to answer the other question. The hen will barely acknowledge the fluffy one until she comes off her nest. The chicks are built to not need food or drink for a day or two as they absorb the rest of the yolk. This gives momma time to hatch out all the eggs possible. She will come off the eggs when the chicks NEED to eat/drink. The unlatched eggs are abandoned at this point. It’s why staggered hatches under a hen are so difficult.

Thank you so much. I had every worse case scenario running through my head.

 

[Chookencrazy]

Ahh, that's nothing. I had a hen nest up on a haybale once. She didn't lose a chick when flying down somehow

 

[Weeg]

All of our broody hatched there babies in nesting boxes 2 feet off the ground. Put a barrier up so they don't fall out, and then, when they are old enough to start to explore, they will be old enough to get down on there own. Congrats on your hatch! As long as momma has everything she needs (food,water) in the box, she will be fine and hang with the chicks. Good luck with them, we love pictures!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It's true. Our bales are about 18 feet high, and they all made their way down without problems

 

[ackie]

Nature is crazy haha

 

[Chookencrazy]

It’s my fault that I didn’t move her from the nesting box to start with!
My nesting boxes are about 50cm off the ground and my hen is not only sitting on eggs anymore as of a few hours ago there’s a (one) little fluffy there too.
1. I’m worried the little one will fall out.
2. Is it to squashed for the hen to look after the little one and stay on the rest of the eggs?
3. Is it too late to move her onto the ground of my coop in a “play pen”?

All of our broody hatched there babies in nesting boxes 2 feet off the ground. Put a barrier up so they don't fall out, and then, when they are old enough to start to explore, they will be old enough to get down on there own. Congrats on your hatch! As long as momma has everything she needs (food,water) in the box, she will be fine and hang with the chicks. Good luck with them, we love pictures!

here she is with the fluff ball.

All of our broody hatched there babies in nesting boxes 2 feet off the ground. Put a barrier up so they don't fall out, and then, when they are old enough to start to explore, they will be old enough to get down on there own. Congrats on your hatch! As long as momma has everything she needs (food,water) in the box, she will be fine and hang with the chicks. Good luck with them, we love pictures!

Here she is with the fluff ball.