Nest found now what?

[ValkerieGunn]

So I found Shirley and her nest by following the peeps of baby chicks tonight. Her nest is 3 foot off the ground inside a hedge. I have no clue how many eggs are left to hatch or how far apart they are. I can not remove her because between the location, babies hiding in her wings, and her possibly kicking the eggs not hatched yet to the ground it is not safe so I am leaving her be. Now do I just keep an eye out for her to get down and move them? Do I move the babies when I inevitably find them on the ground? Laverne I know is Broody but is in a nest box and still has 2 weeks before hatch. But for Shirley I have no clue any advice is appreciated.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Oh bless her little heart...and I mean that in the Southern way. The little stinker of course picked an impossible place.

Well, my old farm girl attitude is...she chose it, she can deal with it. She'll get down and the babes will tumble after her. It may be total chaos at that point...or not.

I had a gal hide in a corner behind the chain link fence and wood pile and thick blackberry brambles...where I couldn't get to the nest fully at all. It wasn't a great place. I managed to pull some of the eggs out as she was sitting on a very big pile. She still hatched out about 10, leaving those that didn't hatch in the pile of left overs. I had little hope she'd get them out of the wood pile, down the chain link, through the thick brambles and to the coop...but a couple of days later she met me at the door to the coop with all babes, alive and well, in tow.

So, I'd let her be and see what she can do. She's got it this far.

My thoughts.
LofMc

 

[cavemanrich]

This is what I would do.
At night with a red headlight,, (so you can see, but chickens cant) I would stick my hand under hen,, and remove chicks, one at a time. At that point, you may get an idea of how many eggs still left to hatch.
Here is a fact.; Baby chicks can live without food for a few days. After that, they expire. That is why you need to remove the chicks, and place in a brooder. (provide water and feed) You also mentioned another hen is broody. See if she will accept the chicks. Of course, she may, and abandon the eggs she is incubating. Brooder best choice.
There are other options also, but do get complex. Like building a platform up to nest, and supplying water and feed. Problem there,, chicks may walk off edge, and fall 3 feet. Not a good thing.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[ValkerieGunn]

Oh bless her little heart...and I mean that in the Southern way. The little stinker of course picked an impossible place.

Well, my old farm girl attitude is...she chose it, she can deal with it. She'll get down and the babes will tumble after her. It may be total chaos at that point...or not.

I had a gal hide in a corner behind the chain link fence and wood pile and thick blackberry brambles...where I couldn't get to the nest fully at all. It wasn't a great place. I managed to pull some of the eggs out as she was sitting on a very big pile. She still hatched out about 10, leaving those that didn't hatch in the pile of left overs. I had little hope she'd get them out of the wood pile, down the chain link, through the thick brambles and to the coop...but a couple of days later she met me at the door to the coop with all babes, alive and well, in tow.

So, I'd let her be and see what she can do. She's got it this far.

My thoughts.
LofMc

Thank you! We free range and she does good but we thought we lost her because we had a pack of coyotes come through and have a party out front and hadn't seen her since. I was doing my egg check around the hedge because some of my pullets came into lay not long ago and started laying there instead of the nest boxes. I only found her because I heard chick peeps. She is in a good spot I think but will she bring them back to the coop? I know the babies can't get back up to the nest once down so I am hoping she comes down and out on her own. My first broody to hatch out her babies so I'm excited and nervous.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Use to be hens would walk back to the coop with chicks following behind. Lived in the sticks of Wisconsin back then.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Thank you! We free range and she does good but we thought we lost her because we had a pack of coyotes come through and have a party out front and hadn't seen her since. I was doing my egg check around the hedge because some of my pullets came into lay not long ago and started laying there instead of the nest boxes. I only found her because I heard chick peeps. She is in a good spot I think but will she bring them back to the coop? I know the babies can't get back up to the nest once down so I am hoping she comes down and out on her own. My first broody to hatch out her babies so I'm excited and nervous.

Yes. Most likely she'll hop down, chirp at babes, babes will tumble after....then follow to coop. It may be a bit trying on mom until they all follow as there's always one last scaredy cat.

She might lose a few. It's your tolerance level to let things be or intervene. Her location makes intervention very risky creating more problems. Nature knows its course. I try not to intervene unless totally necessary or if I paid good money for breeder eggs. Then I set up in isolation coop to avoid the possible pitfalls.

LofMc

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

All of these ideas are great!
I would 100% let her figure it out….
Maybe you could provide a small plate of mash to sustain the chickies until she’s ready to hop down. You’ll want to make it very watery, as providing an actual water source may be very difficult with her current perch.
I would maybe also try to place something soft/cushiony underneath to break a possible fall…(i.e. folded tarp, moving blanket, or outdoor furniture cushion… ect. ect.)

Good luck, and congratulations on your first hatch!!

 

[ValkerieGunn]

I thought incubator hatching was stressful but waiting for her to get down is hilariously stressful lol. I am setting up a cushion under where she is and some water. Now to wait and hope the rest of the flock leaves them be.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I agree with the Lady. Leave her alone. Do not try to help. I've killed chicks trying to help. Do not try to put food or water in with her. Do not try to help them down. I consider their chances of survival greater if you leave them alone.

Her nest is 3 foot off the ground inside a hedge.

Mine often hatch in nests higher than that and have no problems getting their chicks down when it is time. I've seen a hen get her chicks out of a 10 feet high hay loft. She flew to the ground, said jump, and they eventually did. None were hurt. If the chicks cannot get back in the nest then the hens generally take them to bed on the ground or coop floor. They do not need the original nest, she can make a nest just by settling down.

Good luck!

 

[ValkerieGunn]

I agree with the Lady. Leave her alone. Do not try to help. I've killed chicks trying to help. Do not try to put food or water in with her. Do not try to help them down. I consider their chances of survival greater if you leave them alone.


Mine often hatch in nests higher than that and have no problems getting their chicks down when it is time. I've seen a hen get her chicks out of a 10 feet high hay loft. She flew to the ground, said jump, and they eventually did. None were hurt. If the chicks cannot get back in the nest then the hens generally take them to bed on the ground or coop floor. They do not need the original nest, she can make a nest just by settling down.

Good luck!

Yeh I set the food and water on the ground a few feet away from the hedge. She is in the hedge out front. The coop, nest boxes, feed, and water are all out back. That is a long trek for a tiny chick so I put some closer for now. Last night 2 babies that I could see. This morning 5. 1 is definitely half Easter Egger with feathered legs though. So cute!