Eggs hatching in a high nesting box and baby chicks safety with other roosters and ducks

[soldbydawson]

My questions... Momma is sitting on eggs in a nesting box that is up pretty high. What do I do when the baby chicks hatch so they don't fall out of the nesting box? Should I lower the box before they hatch?? Do I leave the chicks with Momma in the coop with the other chickens and roosters or do I move them out? Will the other chickens, roosters or ducks hurt them? They are booted bantums so they are going to be very small.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

How high is high?
The mother won't let the other chickens hurt them. She will be a formidable foe.

 

[Shadrach]

My questions... Momma is sitting on eggs in a nesting box that is up pretty high. What do I do when the baby chicks hatch so they don't fall out of the nesting box? Should I lower the box before they hatch?? Do I leave the chicks with Momma in the coop with the other chickens and roosters or do I move them out? Will the other chickens, roosters or ducks hurt them? They are booted bantums so they are going to be very small.

Do you know where the broody hen is in the pecking order. If she's top or second then I would be tempted to lower the nesting box for ease of chick movement.
I'm not too sure about the ducks. maybe someone else has some experience.
The roosters are usually better with chicks than the other hens here.
I have hens sit and hatch in their coops without many problems. You can make a screen that you can fit over the front of the nest box to give the broody some extra protection when the rest are in the coop; assuming that is that they go into the run in the morning. Basically you put the screen up at roost time and take it off in the morning.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

Whenever I've had chickens hatch out in a nest box, some of the chicks do manage to fall or jump out. Which doesn't usually hurt them, the problem is then they can't get back in if it's anywhere off the ground and will chill quickly. I always move the nest box to the ground. Then once I know all the eggs have hatched I'll give mum and chicks their own space, via a little enclosure around her nest box or by moving them to a giant crate (solid sided) for a couple of days.

 

[soldbydawson]

Thank you all for your responses. I decided it was probably best to separate the coop. The Momma is the top of the pecking order. I am down to only two hens and the other one, bless her heart is a cream booted bantum that is a true blonde. She was clearly younger than the other chicks when I first got her and didn't realize it but she doesn't fly well like the others that I got and she literally cries if the others are out of site for a second. She is adorable but I also have ducks and i swear she thinks shes a duck and the duck protect her from the roosters so I'm not sure I'll ever get a fertilized egg or an egg at all from her. She's just a little confused. . So anyway the ducks do harass the Momma and the roosters so I was worried that they would mess with the chicks so until they are a little older separated the coop and gave the momma and her eggs some space. I also lowered the nesting box and put some a small rubber container lined with towels in front so they wouldn't fall and hurt themselves. I also set up a heat lamp in front so the babies could come out and eat and drink in that container. I'm a newbie at this hatching stuff but hopefully they will be fine. I'm worried that my new chicks that I incubated for her may never be accepted by her to be with her chicks that she is sitting on but am hopeful that at some point I can put all the chicks together. I currently have them in a tall parrot cage in the coop so there are three different areas until they get big enough to be with the others.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I understand your first time with a broody is nerve-wracking but after you gain a little experience with them you'll appreciate how well they do and how tough those chicks are.

Where are you located? How cold are you talking about? Broody hens typically provide all the heat the chicks need, even down to freezing. The chicks eat and drink, then go under her to warm back up. I'm not sure you are doing them any favors with that heat lamp. I have nothing against a heat lamp as long as they are properly secured but I doubt it is really necessary.

I let my broody hens hatch with the flock and raise the chicks with the flock. It's never been an issue but I have a lot of room. I agree that the hens are generally more of a risk than a mature rooster. Occasionally my mature roosters may help the hen with her chicks but most just ignore them. Most hens aren't a problem either. When a hen threatens a chick the broody kicks butt. I don't have experience with ducks but fencing them out is probably a good idea.

How much age difference will there be between those incubator chicks and the broody's chicks? The closer they are in age the more likely it is the hen will adopt that chick. If it is 2 or 3 days the dds are pretty good. After that it is more problematic, but may be possible.

If you do try to isolate the broody and chicks, do a good job of that. Make sure the chicks cannot get through a barrier so they can get away from the broody hen's protection. They are at risk if she cannot protect them.

Whenever I've had chickens hatch out in a nest box, some of the chicks do manage to fall or jump out.

Could you please post photos of your nests. My hens hatch at elevation all the time and only once has it been a problem. The problem was the nest, not the height.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

Ridgerunner, sorry, that was many years ago and a different farm. Typical nest boxes and off the top off my head... maybe 2 or 3 feet high?? Couple of chicks came out before mom was ready to take the whole brood out and they got chilled.
Since then I typically will let a broody mom sit on unfertilized eggs for at least 10 to 14 days, in a variety of locations depending on where she chose to make her nest, and pop live chicks I've bought under her at night, when she's sleeping.
Works every time. And since I know exactly when the chicks will "hatch" I can plan an appropriate space. Since my farms have always had other animals on them as well, there are extra considerations for chick safety.

 

[Ridgerunner]

@SnapdragonQ I understand. I've moved too and can't just go take photos any more.

I'll tell my story anyway. I let a hen brood in a cat litter bucket with top dimensions 7-1/2" x 11-1/2". The first chicks that hatch sometimes climb up on Mama's back. In that nest she was sitting so close to the edge that the chick missed the nest and fell about 4' to the floor. As you said, not hurt by the fall. I had to pick a chick up 4 different times to put it back in with the hen. Probably the same chick.

I retired that nest when that that hatch was over. My other nest are 16" x 16" and I've never had a chick fall out of them.