Our broody's eggs have hatched! (And we want to make sure our coop is ready for them)

[Swiftbow]

So, our broody hen (Goose) has been setting for the 21 days, and today little chicks started poking their heads out! (Not sure if they've all hatched/will hatch... we had six, only seen two chicks so far. When's a good time to check? After she gets up, I assume?)

I've set up a little stand for the chicks to stand on to reach the water. And we've set up a chick feeder for them. Is this setup good? Should I move anything around, or show Goose where things are?

I figure the chicks may not be able to handle the log ramp, either. I have a ramp with "steps" on it that the hens never liked, but may be good for them. Would that be better, and when would they need it? Should I texture paint it?

Thanks!

 

[azygous]

New chicks! There's nothing more fun! If you need to check to see how many hatched, gently lift Goose a few inches off the nest for a quick count, being very careful not to dislodge a chick that may be tangled up in her feathers. Do it very slowly. Make your assessment and replace Goose on the nest. It's best to disturb her as little as possible these first couple days after hatch.

Around the end of the second day, she may want to get the chicks out of the nest so it's very important to have everything at ground level. Putting the food and water up a few inches is fine after the fourth day or so, but at first, the chicks won't be able to figure it out, and it's much easier for Goose to teach her chicks to eat if you simply sprinkle some crumbles over the ground. Keep the water at ground level, too.

The chicks will be able to hop a few inches as soon as they start getting some wing feather growth. With just wing stubs, they won't be able to handle more than one or two inches. When it comes time to go out and down the ramp, all your need is to staple an old hand towel onto the ramp for traction. The chicks can handle the ramp as long as they don't slip and slide.

 

[sawilliams]

I agree move the water and food to ground leveln it looks like the chick food already is. Also keep in mind other chickens might eat the chick food so keep an eye and keep it full. If you have any 2x4 hardwire if you can fence of a corner for the chicks. They can move in and out of the hardwire with ease to get away from other hens once mom starts taking them out of the coop

 

[Swiftbow]

Okay, we have another waterer I can put on the floor. (It's a small, plastic one, but otherwise like the large one.)

One other question: Will they be able to get over the lip of the nest box without a problem?

Thanks!

 

[azygous]

What I do to get the chicks over the lip of the nest box on the floor is build a little ramp out of the sand that I have on the floor. If you have nothing better, just fold a towel into a little ramp. It will have the traction the tiny feet need, too. You will only need it for the first few days. Wing feathers are already coming in by the third day on the girls especially, and they will be able to flap them and give themselves "lift".

 

[sawilliams]

That's a hard one for me. Most people say 4 inches on the front and yours looks about that. Keep an eye on then when she brings them out for food make sure they all can get out of not just add some more bedding to help them out. If they can't get in momma will build another nest in a safe corner for them but a small block might help there too. Sorry I'm probably not much help I've only hatched 1 lone chick inn a store bought prefab coop that is not designed for chicks at all

 

[Swiftbow]

Everybody, adults and chicks, were running around the floor this morning when I came out to open the door. Goose and the young'ns stayed inside. She's been showing them the food and water (I THINK they know where the short water is, I had to keep moving it because they knocked it over twice).

She seems to be lying down and letting them sleep in various spots in the coop when they want. I'm looking for a little step or something for the front of the box, though maybe they don't really need it.

We ended up with two chicks. Three of the eggs just had yolk, don't know if they didn't get fertilized or maybe just didn't develop. The last egg just disappeared and we're quite confused about that.

 

[azygous]

Have you looked at the bottom of the nesting material for the missing egg? I've had an egg get smashed as the chick was trying to exit the egg and found egg and flattened chick barely recognizable at the bottom of the wood shavings.