My silkie went broody and about to hatch her eggs

[SoutheastAK_chickens]

So.. one of my lovely 1-2 year old silkies decided to go broody 18 days ago we let her just to see if she was truly gonna do it.. so we candled the eggs 9 of twelve were not viable. At first we didn't think she could have viable eggs because we got rid of the rooster 11 days before she went broody.. we were wrong lol so she's got 3 eggs with little movers inside. Now with it being so close to hatch day we put chick feed and a waterer in with her and put chicken wire in the doorway of her little tote nest so is that okay? To lock her in? It's a foot high and don't want babies to fall and don't want the others to have access to the babies. We are working on a spot in the coop we will move her and babies once they have all hatched but I think one egg was layed later by a dark brahma maybe a week difference. will locking her in also motivate her to stay on the nest a few days longer for this other egg to hatch? Will she reject it because it's delayed?

 

[sourland]

Locking her in unless there is a lot of space may force her to defecate in the nest and ruin the eggs. Within 36 hours or sooner of the first chick hatching she will probably leave the nest. Hens are programed to do this so that their chicks can access food and water.

 

[Yardmom]

Having food close enough for her to reach could cause her to make a mess on the eggs. Personally my broodies are kept in dog crates. We open the doors and sometimes need to pull broodies out every day. Once the chicks hatch we leave the doors open for the mom and chicks. Our broodies raise the chicks in the flock.

 

[SoutheastAK_chickens]

Locking her in unless there is a lot of space may force her to defecate in the nest and ruin the eggs. Within 36 hours or sooner of the first chick hatching she will probably leave the nest. Hens are programed to do this so that their chicks can access food and water.

Good to know! Few days late to responding. After reading your comment we immidietly finished the area for them however I have yet to see her get off the eggs since so kinda worried. I put a hand full of food in with her everytime I go down. I think it's stressed her out to move her (moved the tote with her and the eggs inside) but yeah no hatched eggs yet

 

[SoutheastAK_chickens]

Good to know! Few days late to responding. After reading your comment we immidietly finished the area for them however I have yet to see her get off the eggs since so kinda worried. I put a hand full of food in with her everytime I go down. I think it's stressed her out to move her (moved the tote with her and the eggs inside) but yeah no hatched eggs yet

But eggs are still alive we candled last night they are all moving but they do look like they are maybe 14 days judging by the airpocket