mother hen has hatched two babies more on the way; I need advice

[KayinVirginia]

My Buff Orpington hen hatched two of her chicks this morning. At least two chicks are peeping out from under their Mama. The other 5-6 eggs in the clutch have not hatched. How long should I leave her on the eggs before I decide the remaining eggs won't hatch and take her off the nest? Also, she chose a nest that is up high and refused to be moved. When all the chicks that are going to hatch are hatched should I take Mama and babies and put them in a (protected) nest on the floor with chick waterers and feed? (I've prepared the nest and feeders) If I leave her alone how is she going to get the babies down from the high nest, and how can she feed them? This is my first brood. I could use some advice. (I have 13 Buffy hens and a rooster)

 

[Cackling Hen]

It can take 48 hrs for the others to hatch Mama usually gets off when she is done. I would get her down now the babies will start wandering or mama will move and they will fall and die Do you have an old dog crate anything you can put her in and the babies and eggs

 

[KayinVirginia]

Cackling Hen, Thanks so much for your advice. I put a plywood square over the nest for tonight so the babies won't fall out. Then I got my dog's crate (a really big one) and set it up in the hen house. I put a covered cat litter box in it and lined it with hay. I put the feeder and waterer in the crate, and a heat lamp over it. Tomorrow at daybreak I'll go out and transfer Mama, babies, and any remaining eggs into the litter box nest. Boy! I thought I was prepared, but I really didn't know what I was doing. If I try this again next year I'll do better.

 

[PhlyinPheBee]

I hope that all goes well. I had a hen hatch 4 chicks sat afternoon/ sun am. She has not taken them out of the hen house yet. I have locked the other hens out from the house for the day and reopen for the hens to go to bed. I think that tomorrow she will let them go outside.

Good luck with your chicks!!!!!!!!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

That sounds like a good plan, though you probably won't need the heat lamp. Mama hen will do a good job of keeping her kids comfortable. There have been a lot of hens hatching chicks here and they all are usually ready to get off the nest about 24 hours after the first chick hatches. That's when they take their babies for their first outing, their first walk around to eat, drink, poop & dust bathe. Sometimes they'll return to the nest and set on the unhatched eggs, but usually they don't want to be bothered with new wet chicks hatching after they already have others with more advanced needs. Your hen may want to spend longer on her nest before going for that first outing, so it should work out fine if you move them at daybreak.

 

[debilorrah]

Mama hens know when the eggs are not going to hatch too, and will toss them out of the nest. She will probably sit for another two days.

 

[Cackling Hen]

Yes I agree no need for the heat lamp mama is hot eniugh for the babies You will do fine Such a wonderful and exciting time for you

 

[KayinVirginia]

Thanks, Everyone. I am so grateful for your advice. I got up at dawn and transferred my hen, babies (3) and unhatched eggs (4) to a cozy safe nest on the floor. Everything went smoothly. My hen has accepted her new nest and settled in. What a wonderful resource this forum is!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Yay, I'm glad it worked well for you & your hen. Is the Mama the one pictured in your avatar? Buff O's make good broody mamas, you'll have fun watching her raise her chicks. Were any of the other 4 eggs beginning to pip? She may want to quit on them later today if they don't, and that's okay. You can feel/listen to/candle the remainder and try to get them to hatch by yourself or just let them grow cold and bury them deeply somewhere. If you're brave you can even crack them open to see if there was any development. I don't.

My mama hens decide on their own to leave their chicks anywhere from 4-9 weeks after hatch. Each hen is different, but few will stay with their chicks until they're grown. Most seem to prefer adult company and want to return to their flock. You'll need a place to keep the chicks and tend to them after mama leaves.

I especially love Buff O chicks, they look like little Easter decorations!