Move mama and chicks/eggs?

[cinhan1]

Mama is in the process of hatching chicks. Two are hatched but there’s still other eggs under her. She is in a nesting box about 3 ft off the ground. There is a 3-4” lip at the edge of the box. Should I move her and babies to the floor of the coop? Should I wait until all eggs hatch or do it now? I don’t want a baby to jump out.

 

[DobieLover]

Mama is in the process of hatching chicks. Two are hatched but there’s still other eggs under her. She is in a nesting box about 3 ft off the ground. There is a 3-4” lip at the edge of the box. Should I move her and babies to the floor of the coop? Should I wait until all eggs hatch or do it now? I don’t want a baby to jump out.

Wait until the eggs finish hatching. You can try to attach screening to the front of the box to block it off. I'd be out there before dawn in the morning and check to see if the hatch is over. Then you can remove her and her chicks from the box and set her up in a corner of the coop on nest made with thick bedding. They like to nest with their broods backed into a corner. You can semi-isolate her in the corner but she needs to be able to leave when she is ready to take the chicks out. Don't block her in.

 

[cinhan1]

Wait until the eggs finish hatching. You can try to attach screening to the front of the box to block it off. I'd be out there before dawn in the morning and check to see if the hatch is over. Then you can remove her and her chicks from the box and set her up in a corner of the coop on nest made with thick bedding. They like to nest with their broods backed into a corner. You can semi-isolate her in the corner but she needs to be able to leave when she is ready to take the chicks out. Don't block her in.

Thank you! I was thinking along those same lines.

 

[DobieLover]

Thank you! I was thinking along those same lines.

Switch the entire flock over to chick starter or Flock Raiser crumbles with a container or two of oyster shell for the active layers.