How long do I wait on my broody hen?

[MountainWoman73]

Questions:
- Is it normal for the hen to have lost feathers on her underside?

Yes. They pick them out to make better contact with the eggs.

Should I check her to make sure she doesn't have any open sores or maggots on her?

Yes, if you get a chance.

The coop she and her babies are currently in is off the ground. When is it possible to remove her from it and allow her to be among the other chickens? This coop would not be easily accessible for her chicks, so I worry about where the hen and her babies

They can be moved out of their nest 12-24 hours after hatch or when you're sure no more eggs are pipping. Sounds like you need to remove all bedding and thoroughly disinfect that nest. (Probably you've already done that. ) She will show her chicks how to use a ramp when they're ready. Usually I just put mine out during the day and in at night by hand for a while. Mom will follow the chicks. I keep broodies separated for a few days to let the chicks get faster and stronger, and then when Mom seems ready I let them back in the main coop and make them a little nest on the floor. She'll sleep there with them until they are big enough to use a roost. My flock can see mom and chicks in the separate area, with just a fence in between, so there's no re-introduction necessary.

 

[roxanne]

Thanks for the reassurance. I have cleaned out the nesting box and will disinfect in several days after I remove the hen and her chicks (I don’t want the fumes from bleach or ammonia around the chicks).
The ramp in and out of the coop is really steep, I don’t think the chicks could climb it. I am not sure what I will do . We have built all of our coops off the ground to protect from snakes. Black snakes are bad around here. The only downfall is when you have babies who can’t climb the steep ramps that are 2 1/2 to 3 feet at their peaks.

 

[Perris]

The ramp in and out of the coop is really steep, I don’t think the chicks could climb it. I am not sure what I will do

you will have to give them a helping hand by lifting them in until they can manage it - approach from the side not from the top, so you look less like a predator swooping down on them and thus less frightening. It may help to have temporary guide walls on the sides of the ramp so they don't fall off; if you can rig something like that, you just need to steer them on at the bottom and supervise until they get to the top.

 

[Ridgerunner]

- The coop she and her babies are currently in is off the ground. When is it possible to remove her from it and allow her to be among the other chickens? This coop would not be easily accessible for her chicks, so I worry about where the hen and her babies

You may notice that we all do these things differently. I let my hens hatch with the flock and raise the chicks with the flock from Day 1. My set-up is different from yours. My 8' x 12' coop is at ground level but the pop door is about 12" above the coop floor and the ground outside. I build steps with pavers inside and out so the chicks can hop up and down. The hen usually keeps the chicks in the coop for two or three days before taking them outside. Then they go out every day all day and return to the main coop at night. I'm down there at bedtime to make sure all of them make it inside until I'm convinced they can handle it. My nests are high enough off of the coop floor that the chicks cannot get back up the nests so the hen covers them on the coop floor at night.

I'm not sure how your hen will manage this if you give her a chance. At some point she will take them outside. At night she will want to take them back inside the coop but there is a great chance the chicks cannot make it. She will likely fly to the top of the ramp and call them. They will run to her on the ground and gather under her instead of knowing to climb the ramp. When the hen sees that the chicks cannot join her she will probably fly down and cover them on the ground under the pop door. This is where you come in.

You can move her and the chicks into the coop. If you are consistent doing this every night they will eventually learn to get up there on their own. It may be a couple of days, it may be weeks.

I'd suggest you build a predator safe shelter at ground level. Lock her and the chicks in there for three days and two nights, then let them loose to roam. She should take them back to that shelter at night (at least mine do). Then you lock them in overnight to keep them safe from predators.

Good luck!