2 Broody Hens

[jrun808]

I have 2 broody hens sharing the same nesting box. I have never seen this before and these are my first broody hens. They are Dorkings, at first only one was broody so I marked the eggs and 2 days later there was another hen in the nest with her. When I checked the eggs some of the ones I marked were under the second hen.
I am new to breeding chickens, I have hatched about 60 eggs this past 3 months with an incubator. So this is the first time I have had a broody hen, now 2 broody hens. Also they get very mean when you try to move them.
Any advise from someone who has had a similar experience?

Thanks Joe

 

[BYCforlife]

Sorry, no.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

I've had many hens hatch chicks together. It usually goes wonderfully and they raise the chicks together with little to no problems. Just leave them in the nest with their eggs; don't try moving. Hope all goes well!

 

[jrun808]

That's good news, I will let them just do there thing. Just one more question, how many eggs is to many for them? Because I can't find another egg in my hen house from the other 6 hens. I believe they have them all.
Thanks Joe

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I have two broody hens that hatched in separate nests. Now they share the same nest while raising them together.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

That's good news, I will let them just do there thing. Just one more question, how many eggs is to many for them? Because I can't find another egg in my hen house from the other 6 hens. I believe they have them all.
Thanks Joe

Depends on the size of hens/eggs. But don't let them gather eggs for more than a day, or they'll lose chicks in a staggered hatch. Mark the eggs they have and remove fresh ones daily.

 

[BYCforlife]

Depends on the size of hens/eggs. But don't let them gather eggs for more than a day, or they'll lose chicks in a staggered hatch. Mark the eggs they have and remove fresh ones daily.

I sectioned off the nesting box that my broody was in with chicken wire, and gave her feed and water. My other hens would peck her eggs open every time she left it, so I did that.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

I sectioned off the nesting box that my broody was in with chicken wire, and gave her feed and water. My other hens would peck her eggs open every time she left it, so I did that.

Do you let her out at least once a day to poop and take a dust bath or something? Otherwise it's not very healthy for the hen, and risks the eggs.

 

[BYCforlife]

Do you let her out at least once a day to poop and take a dust bath or something? Otherwise it's not very healthy for the hen, and risks the eggs.

I forgot to say, I gave her about an 8 square foot place to move around in. I took her out as soon as she left the eggs.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

I forgot to say, I gave her about an 8 square foot place to move around in. I took her out as soon as she left the eggs.

Ah, ok. Trapping her just in the nest wouldn't have been very good, lol.