2 chickens will not leave their nest box, what should I do?

[sandy sea]

My two white cochins have been sitting in their nesting boxes for around 3 weeks. I only have three boxes and all 7 chickens share the boxes. The two make it very hard for me to collect eggs. They won"t move and peck me when I try to collect the eggs. I do not have any roasters and the chickens are now 1 year old. What should I do? Should I got a roaster? Should I get some fertile eggs and put under them? Another question If I were to purchase baby chicks and place them under the two chickens. would they except them as their own, or would they hurt them? New to this. Thanks, Sandy

 

[Farmer Kitty]

If you buy day old chicks and put them under them at night they probably will accept them.

Otherwise to break a broody put them in a wire bottom cage. No bedding. Make it uncomfortable for them is the idea so they don't want to set.

 

[sandy sea]

The feed store has some baby chicks that they got in on Friday, would they be too old to place under them? Sandy

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I've never personally tried it but, I don't now why not.

 

[tiki244]

I havent personally tried it either, but the older the chicks are the less likely they are to be accepted. You dont have any guarantee, but its worth a try if you want more chicks. Or you can put them in a wire cage and hang it from the ceiling, like Farmer Kitty suggested.

I am not sure what would happen if you gave them fertile eggs now, they may sit, they may not. It sure would be a long stretch if they have alreadt been sitting 3 weeks.

The other thing you could try is replacing the eggs with a dozen ice cubes once or twice a day.

That ought to shock them