2 broody bantams sitting on eggs

[RitaChapman40]

This seemed like a fun idea since they were both broody so I numbered 5 eggs and have let my two bantam hens sit on them in side by side nesting boxes. I'm a first timer to hatch my own and this Sunday will be day 21 so I'm getting a little bit nervous. They share a coop and run with a bantam rooster and two Ameracauna hens. All get along great and are very tame. The nesting boxes are up a ramp from the rest of their space. Should I put a small waterer and baby chick food up there when they hatch? The hens are quite calm together, should I be prepared for any problems in sharing the chicks? I do have a separate pen I could set up for one hen if necessary or I could bring the chicks inside for a bit too if necessary due to aggression from the others. First timer so I'm looking for advice.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would stay close and be ready for anything. They may attack the chicks, they may both tend to them or they may fight over them. The chicks can, and often do jump out of the boxes and the hen will often do nothing and the chicks will chill or get attacked by other chickens. Your other birds may cause troubles, or they may not.

I often move my broody and any chicks and unhatched eggs to the floor and put a wire fence around them to keep them confined and safe while the chicks get stronger. About 1-2 weeks before I start letting them mingle back in the flock.