2 broody hens, only one egg. Need advice!

[LittleRedCoopLady]

So, I have two LF Cochin hens who have been sitting in their nest boxes day and night for over 2 weeks. The problem is, one of them is sitting on one egg, the other one is sitting on no eggs. Should I try to break the one hens broodiness or wait until hatch date? Or something else all together? This is my first go around with broody hens.

 

[chickenlittle21]

Buy fertilized eggs online and divide them between the two.

 

[centrarchid]

For egg production, broody hens are best broken to get back into lay. For hen-reared chick production, one egg for a hen is a waste of time. If hatching eggs to be given, then do so only for hen without egg, if egg allowed to continue developing. The two hens need to be separated if eggs to be added, otherwise the hens will abandon clutch once that single egg hatches and needs to begin foraging.

Separating could be done by placing a board between them. If eggs to be added, then needs to be done before day 18 of current eggs incubation assuming it is viable.

I would candle egg to determine if developing.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Do you want them to hatch chicks or not? What do you want to happen, maybe we can help you get there. I'll do some "if's".

If that is the only egg you want to try to hatch (no guarantee it will actually hatch) break that other broody now. I've had broody hens fight over eggs when they start to pip, they destroyed half the eggs. Don't take that chance, break one from being broody now.

If you want them both to hatch eggs, get some fertile eggs for the second broody. Do not split those eggs between the two hens. That way you would have a staggered hatch with that one egg. You do not want a staggered hatch, those are stressful to you and often unsuccessful.. If I did that I would isolate one of those hens so they could not both get to the eggs.

If you can find day-old chicks you can give them to that second broody. If you want to go that route we can talk techniques. Again I'd isolate one of the hens.

If you want a different outcome tell us what it is.

 

[LittleRedCoopLady]

Do you want them to hatch chicks or not? What do you want to happen, maybe we can help you get there. I'll do some "if's".

If that is the only egg you want to try to hatch (no guarantee it will actually hatch) break that other broody now. I've had broody hens fight over eggs when they start to pip, they destroyed half the eggs. Don't take that chance, break one from being broody now.

If you want them both to hatch eggs, get some fertile eggs for the second broody. Do not split those eggs between the two hens. That way you would have a staggered hatch with that one egg. You do not want a staggered hatch, those are stressful to you and often unsuccessful.. If I did that I would isolate one of those hens so they could not both get to the eggs.

If you can find day-old chicks you can give them to that second broody. If you want to go that route we can talk techniques. Again I'd isolate one of the hens.

If you want a different outcome tell us what it is.

Thanks for the info! I'm really just wanting eggs right now. I was hoping they would go broody a little later this spring/summer since my larger coop will be finished then. I'll probably candle this egg, then try to break them if it's not fertile.