Hen hatched chicks in milk crate about 18 inches from floor.

[Wickiechickie]

Help! My hen is hatching chicks in a milk crate nesting box about 18 inches off the coop floor. There is no way for the chicks to get out by themselves. What should I do for food and water for them? Only 1 chick has hatched so far but she's sitting on several more. I don't know what to do.

 

[Mother hen 119]

They will be ok. If you have a good mom she will take care of them.

 

[SueT]

Welcome to BYC....first chick doesn't need food or water for a couple of days. I also have a milk crate nest, I cut out part of one side so they could get out, but this was before hatching and when mama was out for a break.
I think when they're all hatched, you'll have to set it on floor, and maybe turn it on its side?

 

[Parront]

I would move her to a private ground-level nest in something such as a doghouse, do it at night after most of the chicks have hatched. You have a 2 day window of time before the chicks need to eat or drink. Congratulations on parent-hood!

 

[Talithahorse]

My nest boxes are that way (first coop: didn't know better). What I do is watch carefully, checking frequently to make sure the hatched chicks didn't accidentally fall. If they did (and it happens very infrequently), I just put them back. If they fall out again, then I just set up a brooder and take the hatched ones until she is done hatching, then move the entire brood to a ground level coop/ brooder box. So far in doing this for more than five years I only lost one chick which I think tried to follow Mom when she went on her quick daily drink of water and quick bite.

 

[sourland]

Cover the crate so that she can not leave, and then once all are hatched, move her and the chicks to their pen.

 

[Hope Hughes]

Welcome to BYC!!!

We usually have 3-4 hens thats always go broody around the same time like 3 times a year its crazy.
So we built a "nursery" devided into two bays on the grass with a nest box and food and water. Its all made of hardwire cloth and predator safe. That way the chicks are good to go in there until we let them out... and 2 BIG dog crates for when we have more the 2 at once. ​