broody hen, what to do when they hatch?

[jimred]

My girlie is sitting on 8 eggs but the coop in up a ramp.

when they hatch i assume she will keep them in the coop for a day or two then take them down the ramp into the garden, but will they be able to get back up the ramp?

She is the main girl so the chicks should be safe from the other girls

[RichmondHens]

Is there a roof to the hen run? The broody will probably keep them safe from the other hens but if there is not a roof they are at risk from aerial predators like magpies or crows who will pick off young chicks quicker than anything. I always separate my broodies off into broody coops so the chicks are fully protected from any predators.

The ramp may be an issue. Are you not able to get a broody coop and transfer mum and eggs before they hatch? If it is very steep then it is quite likely she will have trouble getting them all back into the house at nightfall. She may even take the option of sleeping outside with them. The other possibility is that some chicks will make it in, with mum, and some will be left outside. Then mum will have a dilemma. She will probably choose to stay inside with the ones that make it in so you will have to do bedtime duty each night and post the chicks in till they are strong enough to manage the ramp or some may die of cold. I really think you should try and get a broody coop organised before they hatch.

[jimred]

When they hatch i will move them to my small coop/run that the hens only use for dust bathing and close the door-thanks for the advice

Is there a roof to the hen run? The broody will probably keep them safe from the other hens but if there is not a roof they are at risk from aerial predators like magpies or crows who will pick off young chicks quicker than anything. I always separate my broodies off into broody coops so the chicks are fully protected from any predators.

The ramp may be an issue. Are you not able to get a broody coop and transfer mum and eggs before they hatch? If it is very steep then it is quite likely she will have trouble getting them all back into the house at nightfall. She may even take the option of sleeping outside with them. The other possibility is that some chicks will make it in, with mum, and some will be left outside. Then mum will have a dilemma. She will probably choose to stay inside with the ones that make it in so you will have to do bedtime duty each night and post the chicks in till they are strong enough to manage the ramp or some may die of cold. I really think you should try and get a broody coop organised before they hatch.