Moving mamma hen and her 2 chicks

[CoffeeAndChickens]

Hello! Apologies if this has already been discussed. I have a broodie that hatched 2 chicks. She hatched them in the coop in the nesting box which has been fine. Our dilemma now that the chicks have hatched, is that the sides of the nesting box are too high for the chicks to get in and out and not enough room to put a makeshift ramp in there so I need to move them. I have a large crate I put in the run which I think will work great. Looking for advice on how to move her and the chicks. Can I just pick her up and move her in the crate and try to move as much of her nest as possible? Then can I just pick up the chicks and put them in there with her? Can I move them during the day or better to wait until night? Any advice is greatly appreciated

 

[katiefloy]

I moved mine during the day. Put the babies in the crate. Mama will follow.

 

[CoffeeAndChickens]

Perfect! Thank you!

 

[Ridgerunner]

First, a warning. Baby chicks sometimes like to crawl up under Mam's wings. I killed a chick once when I picked up a broody, just crushed it. Not a good feeling. So be careful when you pick the broody up.

My broody hens regularly hatch in nests 3' to 4' above the coop floor. When the hen leads them out of the nests they neve go back to that nest. She takes them to bed on the coop floor. The first couple of days that may be in the middle of the coop floor but usually it doesn't take long for her to use a corner. A broody hen does not need a nest to keep her chicks in. They need a dry predator proof place for them to sleep. Nothing more.