Never had a broody hen

[Melnich]

Here’s my dilemma.
10 years raising hens (no rooster ever) I have a very broody hen…. I’m thrilled to have her! Picked up some fertilized eggs and she has been faithfully doing everything a broody hen does.
Fast forward into the future….
My coop is set up for 4 hens. The 3 others don’t bother her. But it’s not set up to accommodate chicks. Not size wise but safety. If they fall out of the door there is no way for them to get back up into the coop.
So- I have another place where I can put this hen… but when/how do I move her ensuring she doesn’t abandon the eggs. Eggs are on day 3 of incubation right now

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

You can wait until the chicks hatch. Do you have a picture of the safety issues? I used to worry about chicks falling but apparently that’s not a super big deal. Is there no ramp for them to get back up? I had a broody once whose chicks would not go up the ramp so she just slept in the run with them. It was safe so I let her do that

 

[Melnich]

You can wait until the chicks hatch. Do you have a picture of the safety issues? I used to worry about chicks falling but apparently that’s not a super big deal. Is there no ramp for them to get back up? I had a broody once whose chicks would not go up the ramp so she just slept in the run with them. It was safe so I let her do that

I have a ramp for them… you’re saying they should be able to go in and out with mom no problem? I just worry about them falling along the sides of the ramp because it’s not the same width of the coop door. It’s probably a foot or 2 drop

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

A two foot drop won’t hurt them. I know that sounds crazy but more experienced chicken people than me will say it’s true. It’s something about their fluff slowing them down in the air so they have a soft landing. I had a chick jump out of my hand onto a hard bathroom floor once and she was fine. They should be able to use the ramp. In the wild, mother hens will roost in trees and call the chicks up to them. But if they go down and won’t go up she will very likely just stay with them.

 

[Melnich]

A two foot drop won’t hurt them. I know that sounds crazy but more experienced chicken people than me will say it’s true. It’s something about their fluff slowing them down in the air so they have a soft landing. I had a chick jump out of my hand onto a hard bathroom floor once and she was fine. They should be able to use the ramp. In the wild, mother hens will roost in trees and call the chicks up to them. But if they go down and won’t go up she will very likely just stay with them.

Thank you for the reassurance. Like I said this is the legit first time I’ve ever had a broody hen. I’ve never owned a rooster so I’ve never even had an option for fertilized eggs. So to have this experience it’s fun. She seems like she’s going to be an amazing momma so I just want it all to go smooth

 

[RoseHawke]

I suspect it's more a matter of mass. An ant can fall a hundred feet and not be bothered, an elephant would go splat.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I just want it all to go smooth

I’ve had a few hens I got eggs for and I have to say the process didn’t always go smoothly (my last attempt actually went horribly wrong) but it’s all a learning opportunity and chances are if you let the hen do her thing and don’t intervene too much it will go well. It’s hard not to fuss too much and get your nose up in the process but *usually* they know what they’re doing. Unless they’re my dingbat BCM who tried to steal another hen’s eggs and broke them in the process and made a huge mess that resulted in a terrible hatch rate for me…but that was different because I was trying to let two broodies share the coop. Which does work for lots if people. Just not me and that silly girl.

 

[Melnich]

Here’s my dilemma.
10 years raising hens (no rooster ever) I have a very broody hen…. I’m thrilled to have her! Picked up some fertilized eggs and she has been faithfully doing everything a broody hen does.
Fast forward into the future….
My coop is set up for 4 hens. The 3 others don’t bother her. But it’s not set up to accommodate chicks. Not size wise but safety. If they fall out of the door there is no way for them to get back up into the coop.
So- I have another place where I can put this hen… but when/how do I move her ensuring she doesn’t abandon the eggs. Eggs are on day 3 of incubation right now

My other concern is my coop is only meant for 4-6 birds. There really isn’t room in there for chick feed and waterer… not to mention they will probably eat the chick starter

 

[DLA]

My other concern is my coop is only meant for 4-6 birds. There really isn’t room in there for chick feed and waterer… not to mention they will probably eat the chick starter

It won't hurt them to eat chick starter. Just make sure there's calcium for the layers available on the side and chick sized grit along with regular size until the chicks get bigger. You said you never had a rooster, don't be surprised if you get at least one with this hatch. I never had a rooster and didn't really want one but I got a surprise with my last chick order and now I wouldn't want to be without him.

 

[Melnich]

It won't hurt them to eat chick starter. Just make sure there's calcium for the layers available on the side and chick sized grit along with regular size until the chicks get bigger. You said you never had a rooster, don't be surprised if you get at least one with this hatch. I never had a rooster and didn't really want one but I got a surprise with my last chick order and now I wouldn't want to be without him.

That was my thought too. Im
Sure I’ll get a rooster and as long as he’s nice to everyone he can stay