Question about nest boxes and hens with chickies

[LocoPollo]

I am just curious what if any consideration should be made to hens who have hatched chicks when designing nest boxes. What if the chickies come out of the nest and walk around? Does there need to be an area for them to do that? If the nest is too high, will they fall out? I am just wondering what I need to do to make sure a nest is not only a nice place to lay eggs, but also a nice place to hatch them.

 

[redoak]

You could make portable nest boxes, and move the nest box into a brooder.

 

[ncCHICKS]

Quote:
I think if you can have one draft free thats low, that'd be good. Have one with sides so they can't fall out. Also, low enough for them to get out when she starts taking them exploring.

 

[bheila]

That is one of the mistakes I made when I made our boxes. I put them way too high(4ft high). We didn't have a rooster then so we never considered having chicks. Now when the girls hatch babies I leave them in nest for the first 2 days with little bowls of food and water. Then I just put them on the coop floor and then their mom jumps out and show them around. We're now making a new coop with new boxes only about a foot off of the ground.