I have 4 broody hens setting on about 40 eggs. Two have had one chick hatch out yesterday. I candled the remaining eggs & they are all at different stages (I saw movement in some, some veins in others & some were dark with a small air space). I am afraid that when the 2 chicks are ready to get out of the nesting box & get on the ground to eat, the momma will not continue to set on the remaining eggs. I have one hen with 3 chicks that are about a week old & she took them out of the nest at about 2 days old & did not set on her remaining 3 eggs. I checked them & they were developing so I put them under the other hens. The nesting box is about 3 feet of of the ground & the babies cannot get back in once they are on the ground.
Should I put milk crates on the ground on their side with each hens eggs in them so when they are on the ground with the chicks, they can still set on the eggs? Should I take the chicks away from the momma (I really don't want to) so that she will continue to set on her eggs? Should I put the momma, the eggs & the chicks in a seperate cage? UGH...I just don't know what to do!
In the same coop I have a roo & the hen with the 3 chicks. The roo is very sweet & has not bothered the chicks at all.
Thanks for any ideas or help you can offer!
Should I put milk crates on the ground on their side with each hens eggs in them so when they are on the ground with the chicks, they can still set on the eggs? Should I take the chicks away from the momma (I really don't want to) so that she will continue to set on her eggs? Should I put the momma, the eggs & the chicks in a seperate cage? UGH...I just don't know what to do!


In the same coop I have a roo & the hen with the 3 chicks. The roo is very sweet & has not bothered the chicks at all.
Thanks for any ideas or help you can offer!