2 broody hens

[GSPx2]

So here's the story, I had an EE go broody around 2 months ago. Then a few weeks ago i had another hen go broody. They were both trying to lay in the same spot, so i moved one over about a foot away. So they are right next to each other with nothing separating them. I went out and picked up fertile eggs. The eggs are at 19 days now since I introduced them to the hens. So they should be very close to hopefully hatching, should I put a divided up so when/if the chicks hatch, the opposite mommy hen won’t bother the other chicks?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I've only had one instance (out of many) where one hen felt enraged by another's chicks. Because the other mother was lower on the pecking order, she was not good about defending her chicks and some were killed. This is not the norm, IME, though. I sold the more aggressive hen (as I do any that are overly aggressive towards babies, since I hatch chicks frequently) and have not had an issue since. Many times my girls will raise babies side by side.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

My experience with this ended sadly. Once the chicks started hatching they both abandoned any slower hatching eggs and left the nests. Resulting in unhatched eggs that could/should have hatched. It was both broodies first time. I think the closeness to each other and constant egg stealing for the previous 3 weeks confused them. Now I always separate or pull all eggs.

 

[GSPx2]

Being days away from hatching, is it too late to move one?

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

I'm not sure. I'd hate to advise you incorrectly. You know the hens. And how they would tolerate that Maybe your divider idea is best this time around. Either way it'll be a learning experience.

Wishing you the best!