YIKES! I hear peeping under my broody! What do I do?

[ozark hen]

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were there any other eggs??? if so put them under her quickly. if not enjoy

 

[Southernbelle]

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Sounds like you might have a staggered hatch if another hen was laying in her nest. Those eggs won't be ready to hatch, but in another day or so, your broody will be done with them. You can finish them in an incubator and raise them yourself, or let them go. It stinks, but that sort of thing happens.

Ideally, you'll get to move the chicks before they hop out of the nest, but at 12" fall onto soft shavings won't hurt them, but they won't be able to get back up there to mama. Have you ever seen those hatchery videos - they toss those chicks down chutes!

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

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Thanks jaybob54, I stupidly didn't prepare anything ahead of time because I just didn't think they were fertile. I started building a little temp pen that I could put under the poop board. I can finish it and if I need to move them in there than I'll have it.

 

[ozark hen]

sorry jaybob, got you mixed up with OP

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

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Sounds like you might have a staggered hatch if another hen was laying in her nest. Those eggs won't be ready to hatch, but in another day or so, your broody will be done with them. You can finish them in an incubator and raise them yourself, or let them go. It stinks, but that sort of thing happens.

Ideally, you'll get to move the chicks before they hop out of the nest, but at 12" fall onto soft shavings won't hurt them, but they won't be able to get back up there to mama. Have you ever seen those hatchery videos - they toss those chicks down chutes!

How many days are they when they leave the nest?

 

[Southernbelle]

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How many days are they when they leave the nest?

After 2-3 days after the first one hatches the mama is done with her hatch. She'll abandon any unhatched eggs and she'll take her babies to get something to eat. The babies will usually stay right near mama until she gets up with them, but if one falls out, just toss him back with the mama.

You'll probably move her before she gets up on her own, but even if she gets up and the babies jump out after her, a 12" fall won't hurt them, you just don't want them seperated from mama since she's their heat source.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

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How many days are they when they leave the nest?

After 2-3 days after the first one hatches the mama is done with her hatch. She'll abandon any unhatched eggs and she'll take her babies to get something to eat. The babies will usually stay right near mama until she gets up with them, but if one falls out, just toss him back with the mama.

You'll probably move her before she gets up on her own, but even if she gets up and the babies jump out after her, a 12" fall won't hurt them, you just don't want them seperated from mama since she's their heat source.

I just went down to open the coop up for the others and saw our first little chick!! We're so excited! It's a NN EE

Thanks for your help. I'll be running down to the coop at least 24 times a day now!

Will mama leave her nest with chicks in it to eat and drink? Will the other hen that's been sharing the nest bother the chicks? I'll put some food near the nest so that mama doesn't have to venture very far. I let the others out to free range to kind of give her some space.

 

[Southernbelle]

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She doesn't usually leave the nest at all when the chicks are hatching, although I've had a few broodies who will. She will be hungry and thirsty when she's done. You can give her food and water in the nest. She'd probably like that.

My older hens usually didn't bother chicks at all, they completely ignored them. If the other hens get close, the broody mama will warn them away with a growl and the older hens respect that.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

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She doesn't usually leave the nest at all when the chicks are hatching, although I've had a few broodies who will. She will be hungry and thirsty when she's done. You can give her food and water in the nest. She'd probably like that.

My older hens usually didn't bother chicks at all, they completely ignored them. If the other hens get close, the broody mama will warn them away with a growl and the older hens respect that.

I'll try offering her food and water in the nest, I've tried before, even yummy treats, but she ignored them. She doesn't seem to mind me poking around under her. She's a docile girl. I appreciate all your help. I'm not panicking anymore.

 

[Southernbelle]

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I'm glad you're not panicking anymore!

You're doing great!

They get in a "zone" and ignore the world around them. I don't usually offer food/water in the nest because where they eat, they will poop and who wants broody poop in the nest? But at the end, they often poop in the nest anyway because they don't get up until it's all over.

If you want to leave her with the whole flock, you can also set up a "creep feeder" - section off part of the coop with wire the babies can fit through (like 2"x4" wire) and put food and water back there for the babies. They can fit through the wire to get their chick starter, but the adults can't fit through the wire. Then you don't have to switch the whole flock's food. They can also run back there if the older hens are bothering them, but I really doubt they will, the broody mama will protect them.