2 broody hens

[ajbett1204]

Hello,
I have 2 broody hens and they both are fighting on staying on the same eggs. When one lays on the eggs, the other will be in the other nesting box laying on the infertile eggs that got laid that day or nothing at all. Should I get more eggs or can I try putting baby chicks under one of them? I don't have much experience with broody hens.

 

[Laura Gerrard]

Try separating the hens into different coops because they can break the eggs and they can also end up fighting over the babies. Hens tend to favor one nesting box.

 

[Pork Pie]

I'd suggest breaking the broodiness of one of the hens. Search "broody buster" in "Search forums", but its basically putting the broody hen in a wire crate that is slightly elevated above the ground (with food and water) for 3-5 days.

Providing the hens have not been broody for a number of weeks, then putting fertile eggs under one of the broodies is fine. Giving chicks seems to be more successful if the hen has been broody for around two weeks (from what i have read) but she may reject them, so you'd need a plan B, just in case.