How to move a broody (2) and their chicks...help!

[fshinggrl]

I have a broody, or rather two broodies, eggs and at least (probably only) 3 chicks. I need to move them all out of the nest box for their safety from the other hens (had 4 chicks but found one dead in the main area of the coop). Do I wait until evening when they are all bedded down? Right now they get all poofy when I peek in on them. So, they are very protective.

 

[thejohnsie]

I'm glad you asked this question. Mine are due next week and I will also need to move them.

 

[fshinggrl]

I'm glad you asked this question. Mine are due next week and I will also need to move them.

Honestly, if I were you I'd move them now! Just my personal opinion. I did not think the eggs would hatch so I just stuck them in a nest box with a broody. They had been in a compost bin away from the other chickens.

 

[JadeMurphy]

I have moved mine a couple of times, and I've done it both in daylight & dark.

In daylight I had the problem that all of the other chickens were very interested in what I was doing & momma seemed to get a bit stressed. She could see I had her babies and wasn't happy about it!

The evening went smoother, I grabbed momma and I had someone else grab the chicks so they were moved at the same time and could hear eachother. Hardly any fuss. When I went to them in the morning it was as if nothing had happened & they were happy as larry in the other coop.

Hope this is something along the lines of what you were asking.