Hidden Nest Found!

[Delaneygraces]

Hello! So a few weeks ago we had a hen go missing, only to find she had gone broody in a hidden location. So after making a post here, and deciding to leave her be and hatch the eggs, I finally spotted where she was going. Under the porch! Thai was a slight problem, as it was enclosed, and she had found a small broken part, and went as far as she could in the driver middle of the porch, where we can not access her. BUT I did manage to find the exact spot, and can spy on her through the crack! This morning (Happy 4th of July by the way!) I noticed a peeped and chirping egg!!
I do have some concerns. We have busted concrete piled under the porch. I’m not entirely sure these Bantam chicks will be able to climb over them. But I’m more worried about any chicks that don’t hatch, any rotten eggs, or anyone that gets stuck in their egg. We can’t (don’t really want to) year up our porch to get to them, but we don’t want to be smelling them for the next couple months.
What should I do for keeping them/feeding/watering? The hen has been coming out in te morning and afternoon to go to the garage to get food and water. But she has to fly into a pen to get to it. Should I try to put food and water by the porch, and hope it doesn’t attract other chickens? Or cats looking for a drink? Or should I catch them all and pen them up?
If I do pen them, I have a few questions. I do want them to be free ranging during the day. How long should I keep them penned to prevent the hen from going back to her nest under tee porch? Also, once they do hatch, before I pen the up, how long should I give any late Hatchers to hatch?

Thank you for any advice!

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you keep her and the chicks locked in a new pen for two nights she should take them there at night.

I'd probably put water out in the area so the chicks could get to it. I would not worry about the food, that could attract things you don't want to attract. The hen will manage to see that they get some food from the ground when she first brings them off the nest. Broody hens have been doing that for thousands of years. But have food for them when you pen them up.

I'd probably leave that nest alone unless it started to smell. How easy would it be to cover it with a few inches of dirt?

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

Well she certainly wanted to be left alone didn’t she!? I’d make sure to put food and water where the chicks can easily reach it. I’d choose to catch and pen them personally just for their safety and my peace of mind.

 

[C3 mommy]

Once you catch them, I'd fix the porch so they can't get back under.

 

[Delaneygraces]

If you keep her and the chicks locked in a new pen for two nights she should take them there at night.

I'd probably put water out in the area so the chicks could get to it. I would not worry about the food, that could attract things you don't want to attract. The hen will manage to see that they get some food from the ground when she first brings them off the nest. Broody hens have been doing that for thousands of years. But have food for them when you pen them up.

I'd probably leave that nest alone unless it started to smell. How easy would it be to cover it with a few inches of dirt?

Thanks! And pretty difficult!! I could try to trickle sand or fine dirt threw the crack.

Once you catch them, I'd fix the porch so they can't get back under.

Definitely!! I’ll take some wire and patch hit up, I don’t think it’s reasonable to buy a whole new stretch of siding.

I’ll post some pictures of the porch tomorrow and see if anyone can spot a way to clear up any unbatched eggs.

Update: pipped egg is out of his shell! He is still half in the memebrane though. His head and upper body are clear! Can’t see any others, as momma hasn’t moved any int eh past few hours.