When do new mamas show their chicks?

[jmdarrow]

This is going to be long. I'm new to chicken hatching.
3+weeks ago I found my lil black Silkie sitting on a clutch of 3 eggs,again.
She faked it on me twice. I would get excited and she would quit.
I went away for memorial day weekend and left the chicken tending to my youngest boy.
Anyway, I came home Sunday afternoon just to check on mama. I found the coop door closed due to the wind and mama frantically pacing back and forth outside the run. My heart broke cause I didn't know how long She was off her nest.
I gathered her squawking butt up and opened the coop door, only to find that her clutch had grown to 8. She went to her nest and looked around and after a short period of time settled back in and didn't move off that nest.
Monday was supposed to be hatch day. When I checked on her that evening I thought she was dead. I gently gave her a little poke and she growled at me. I was thrilled!
Last night I checked her again, gentle poked her again cause she was so still, she growled again. Then I heard it. Peep peep peep! I poked again thinking it was wishful thinking and there it was again! Prep peep peep! Yay!!!!!

Tonight, I go out again, poke, growl, peep peep peep peep!! Still no peek at a chick! Wth.
I went in the house, made dinner and went back out to see if I could get a peek, only to find her sister Daphne sitting on the nest with her. I think it was a warning look she gave me. "Don't poke the bear"
Here is a pic...

Anyway...how long will it be before I can get a peek at her chicks?

 

[donrae]

congrats on your hatch!

My hens usually wait 2-3 days after the first chick hatches to leave the nest. Although, there are usually chicks poking out and running around by then, they don't stay under momma all the time. If she doesn't leave the nest tomorrow, I'd scatter some feed by her head. She'll likely call the chicklets out to eat and you can get a count then.

 

[jmdarrow]

Thanks! I did get a peek at 2 yellow fluffy butts tonite. They are still sitting on eggs AND I do believe that my partridge cochin is brooding also. My problem with that is she is in a nesting box that is too far up from the floor for any chicks to be safely hatched without falling out. any suggestions?