Help! I don’t want to mess this up!

[Masers]

If you feed an all flock food, then smashing that up will be just fine for the chicks. If you feed layer food, then you'll need to give them something different. Layer food has too much calcium in it for the chicks, and the overabundance of calcium can cause serious medical problems down the road. A good "all flock" feed with oyster shell, egg shell or calcium supplement available on the side (in a separate dish), will cover all of your birds needs. Those that need the calcium boost will use it, and those that do not typically avoid it.

Thanks! I use layer food, so I figured that wouldn’t work. I’ll get some all flock food tomorrow.

Another stupid question....
the hens use a feeder that hangs from the ceiling of the coop, and is at their head level. (Same for the water). Do I just smash up some food and put it in a little shallow bowl for the chicks in their little box? Same with a little shallow water bowl?

I know these are like, super basic questions, but I just want to make sure I have the logistics figured out.

Thanks again.

 

[Masers]

I believe she will

Thanks! I agree this seems the most logical!

 

[Masers]

You're getting some great ideas.

I like the cardboard in her nest idea myself...even though I suggested a dog crate.
I think that would be least likely to make her abandon the eggs.

Thanks! I think I will try that one. Seems like it will work the best. THe only problem is that the nesting box is really private and kind of high, so I won’t get to keep as good of an eye on the chicks! Haha!

How old before I should try handling the chicks?

 

[Ebony Rose]

Yeah, but don't feed them in the nest... put their food somewhere near the adult food or better yet, put the hanging feeder on the ground and raise it up little by little as the squirts grow.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Depends on when momma will let you handle them

 

[Masers]

Yeah, but don't feed them in the nest... put their food somewhere near the adult food or better yet, put the hanging feeder on the ground and raise it up little by little as the squirts grow.

Okay, but if I end up doing the cardboard box in the nesting box, where should I put the food and water? The nesting box is very high and requires a steep ramp to get up and down...the chicks won’t be able to handle that. Should I put it outside the cardboard box?

Also—since the wire screen up there has holes too far apart for tiny chick feet...should I line it with something else until they are bigger? (Like a window screen or something with finer mesh screen? Or like...lay down flattened cardboard?

 

[DiYMama540]

Okay, but if I end up doing the cardboard box in the nesting box, where should I put the food and water? The nesting box is very high and requires a steep ramp to get up and down...the chicks won’t be able to handle that. Should I put it outside the cardboard box?

Also—since the wire screen up there has holes too far apart for tiny chick feet...should I line it with something else until they are bigger? (Like a window screen or something with finer mesh screen? Or like...lay down flattened cardboard?

Do you have any pics? Maybe taking some tomorrow of the boxes would give us a better picture of the dilemma.

I agree with @21hens-incharge, great ideas!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thinking of the wire bottom nest....definitely line it with cardboard and then shavings if you keep her up there.

How high is really high?

 

[Masers]

Thinking of the wire bottom nest....definitely line it with cardboard and then shavings of you keep her up there.

How high is really high?

Okay. It’s like, shoulder height on me. I am 5’3. So not really high, but really high for a chick!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Okay. It’s like, shoulder height on me. I am 5’3. So not really high, but really high for a chick!

Yeah to high for comfort.
I am 5'4" so totally picture it.

If you go with the down low crate option.....
Move at night, use as little light as possible, move her, then slide the eggs under her. I would use a plastic airline crate style so I could quietly place the top on after she is all moved in. Thinking that you would have the ability to close the door preventing her going back to her treehouse.

Moving a broody is always risky though.

Maybe the cardboard in existing nest then once hatched a couple days in a big dog crate......