2 Broody Brahma Mommas

[Kimmyk80]

I have one brahma hen who went broody about a week ago, which was good because I have some day old chicks due to be delivered the first week of May and I would love for a broody to raise them. So on Saturday, I noticed another one of my brahmas laying on the nest a little longer than normal, and now she refuses to leave her nest. So my question is, would it be advisable to give each hen some of the chicks? I only have 6 coming, but I would feel awful knowing that I was giving chicks to one hen and not the other.

 

[BaaKaaawk]

You can split them up. I play musical eggs with my broodies all the time, heck I even move them and their eggs/chicks sometimes between the coop and my barn (which some chickeners would gasp at) but it's to get them into quieter / more peaceful places.

Just today I swapped eggs between two of the three I have broody right now and stuck a single chick under one mama who's been broody for what seems like forever, just so she can move on. I took her eggs out and stuck them under another hen to finish hatching.

As long as the broody hens are for sure broody, they'll do a great job mothering in my opinion. And you have backup! If one quits- you can just toss everybody under the other!

 

[Kimmyk80]

You can split them up. I play musical eggs with my broodies all the time, heck I even move them and their eggs/chicks sometimes between the coop and my barn (which some chickeners would gasp at) but it's to get them into quieter / more peaceful places.

Just today I swapped eggs between two of the three I have broody right now and stuck a single chick under one mama who's been broody for what seems like forever, just so she can move on. I took her eggs out and stuck them under another hen to finish hatching.

As long as the broody hens are for sure broody, they'll do a great job mothering in my opinion. And you have backup! If one quits- you can just toss everybody under the other!

Thanks for the input! The first broody has been laying on a plastic Easter egg for a couple of weeks now. The second hen is currently doing an amazing job of incubating a golf ball...It was all I had, and she seems pleased with it;-)

My brahmas are so calm that I can't wait to see them raising some little fluffy butts

 

[Alaskaliz]

My second hen started up 2 days ago. Initially I discouraged the first broody bird who would not eat or drink and eventually all went back to normal. 2nd bird has been doing great as she will take a quick drink/eat/bathroom break so I let her be and my easter egger took advantage to each break and filled her nest. My old EE decided to make this a habit and would not leave her alone to the point of trying to lay an egg while she was still in the nesting box so I had to move her into a dog kennel and am keeping coop warmer, could not decide if I should bring them inside.(plus worried about chicks falling) From my calculations I think the first egg may be due any day. Now I think the original bird, both salmon faverolles has joined the broody club and is sitting on a clutch of her own. I lost all but 1 bird in my hatch due to power outage fluctuations so I figured might as well let the broodies go. Crossing my fingers.