What do I do if/when they hatch?

[eviered]

I have 5 turkey eggs sitting under a chicken -- she has faithfully set these eggs since about the 15th of April -- so if they are gonna hatch it should be next week I am guessing -- so what do I do if/when they hatch? The nest sits up off the floor so I don't want them to fall out and how the heck would I get food/water to them anyway without making a mess? Do I take them away from the hen and put them in a brooder? Help!

 

[longranger]

If you can supply a secure brooder penn move the hen and eggs and she will probably hatch and brood the poults for you. Would need enough room for food,water and a toilet area. Does not need to be anything fancy. Leaving them with her if there are lots of other chickens in the penn usually leads to an unhappy ending. Taking the newly hatched poults and brooding them yourself is an option but you have to be johnny on the spot to stop the other chickens in the penn from attacking and killing them. You could also take the eggs now and put them in a hatcher if you can't provide a secure area or sit around on poult watch.

 

[ziggywiggy]

Move the box very carefully and slowly to the floor late at night and try to do it before they hatch so she doesn't get nervous and step on the poults. Hopefully, you used screws to attatch it to the wall. I did the same thing my first hatch and I have two turkeys on seperate nests right now off the ground. Sometimes you can't help where they are going to lay and set. I do have a lot of straw under the boxs to cushion any falls, but when I hear any peeping I will move them to the ground-box and all and keep them as isolated and alone as possible.