New To Hatching Out Chicks The Natural Way--have A Few Questions!!

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This is my first time trying to get eggs to hatch the natural way. I have a hen that has been sitting for 4 days now. She got off of her nest this morning & when I checked it, there was dried yolk on some of the eggs and 2 eggs were gone. I have 7 hens and 1 rooster. The hen got back on the nest and has been on it all day today.

My question is, do I need to move this hen & the eggs away from the other hens/rooster. I'm assuming the rooster or one of the hens got into the eggs. They all free-range during the day but are in the coop at night.

Another question, the nesting boxes are about 2-2 1/2 feet off of the ground. When the chicks hatch out, is this too high? Do I need to move them before hatching out or leave them alone? I've heard conflicting stories.

One last question, if I do need to move them, I have a new cage with 6-8 week old guinea keets. Would it be ok to put this hen in with the guineas? I could build a nesting box closer to the ground in this area.

Any info would be helpful. Thanks in advance and sorry for all of the questions!

 

[tackyrama]

Hi, I'm two days into my first natural hatch. five have hatched so far, three to go. I also had problems getting them setting good. I had three go broody almost at the same time. One likes to lay her eggs on the floor by the nest boxes. Naturally she started nesting on the floor too. She had other hens coming and going, leaving and eating eggs. We tried unsuccessfully to move her. She would not have it. finally after two weeks she left the nest. We took the five eggs she had left and put them under the hen that went broody the same day. That gave that hen 12 eggs. So far 5 have hatched, two died and two spoiled. The other broody started about a week & a half later and she is doing great so far.

from what I've observed once they are firmly setting they will drive away other hens, roosters, dogs, whatever. Our nests are about 18" off the floor. The first chick got out and could not get back up and the hen would not leave the other eggs and just clucked desparately. I rescued the chick and put some small logs in front for the chicks to hop up on. They caught on right away. Not sure about the guinee keets.

 

[19Dawn76]

I have a hen setting now and I have not decided if I am going to put6 her and the chicks in the brooder or just the chicks. Tough decisions