Hen layer Clutch in deep litter under roost?

[Kelli Tay]

I’m afraid if I try to clean out the coop she might leave the eggs. But I’m worried if I leave her here to hatch them the baby chicks might not be able to climb out of this deep nest and walk in the thick litter (from winter layers). I didn’t expect her to lay eggs here, there are nesting boxes after all. Should I clean around them before they hatch or wait? Thanks!

 

[cavemanrich]

I would wait until they hatch, and them move where you want them. Remember that baby chicks can go a couple days without food when first hatched. Otherwise hatcheries would not be able to ship chicks via mail.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and

 

[Kelli Tay]

Thank you! I didn’t know that! I was worried they would need food immediately!

 

[aart]

How deep is it?
Are you removing freshly laid eggs daily?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to the forum, glad you joined.

Is a broody hen sitting on the eggs now or is it just a nest of eggs you've found? I don't like to assume.

But I'll assume she is actually brooding the eggs and you want her to hatch. Could you please post a photo if your only concern is whether the chicks that hatch can get out. I've seen broody hens hatch in some really weird places. The chicks are remarkably capable of getting around. I like to know what you are working with before I pass judgment or make specific suggestions.

How long before they hatch? They are under the roosts, are they getting pooped on?

 

[Kelli Tay]

How deep is it?
Are you removing freshly laid eggs daily?

It’s deep enough that I’d be worried about baby chicks being able to climb out - she dug a nest in the deepest part maybe 8 inches or more down. Am I supposed to take out new eggs? There’s 10 so far and she is still coming out to eat, etc.

 

[cavemanrich]

Reason to take out new eggs,,,,,, is so that you don't have an irregular hatch schedule. Those deposited later into nest will obviously hatch that many days later than those already started earlier. One easy thing to do is to mark all the current eggs with a marker. All newly added eggs without a mark should be removed.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I take it she is brooding then.

I agree, remove the new eggs daily. I use a black marker and make two circles on the eggs, one the short way and one the long so I can tell at a glance which ones belong. Then, after all the other hens have laid for the day remove any that don't belong. As long as you remove them daily they are still good to eat.

8" deep. I think you are probably over-worrying. They can probably jump that high after they are well dried off. If it is an issue wait until she hatches and scrape some of the bedding away to form a ramp so they can walk out.

Before she even starts to lay eggs a hen packs on some excess fat. That fat is what she mostly lives off of when she is brooding eggs so she does not have to spend a lot of time looking for food. Most broodies come off daily to grab a bite to eat, get a drink, and take a poop. In warm weather I've seen a broody hen come off twice a day and spend more than an hour off each time. In cooler weather I've seen a broody come off once a day for 15 minutes. Often I don't see a broody come off at all but since she is not pooping in her nest she is coming off.

 

[Kelli Tay]

Welcome to the forum, glad you joined.

Is a broody hen sitting on the eggs now or is it just a nest of eggs you've found? I don't like to assume.

But I'll assume she is actually brooding the eggs and you want her to hatch. Could you please post a photo if your only concern is whether the chicks that hatch can get out. I've seen broody hens hatch in some really weird places. The chicks are remarkably capable of getting around. I like to know what you are working with before I pass judgment or make specific suggestions.

How long before they hatch? They are under the roosts, are they getting pooped on?

 

[Kelli Tay]

I counted 18 today the very deepest ones DO have a lot of poop around where she dug down into the straw. She is not sitting on them all the tine she spends most of the time pecking around with the other chickens. It’s pretty warm where I am in NC