2 clutch conundrum!

[6hensJen]

Hi all! I have a broody buff who has been sitting on a small clutch of eggs for 2 weeks and another broody who has been sitting on a clutch for 8 days. All seems well after candling but now the hen who was on the nest for a week has decided to give up! This was her first clutch, my buff is a seasoned momma and has done a wonderful job for me in the past. I don’t have an incubator so my question is can I put the 1 week eggs under my buff? They would hatch a week after her own clutch though so would she just abandon them once her own chicks have hatched? I could try to order an incubator and put the eggs under her for now, but shipping at the moment is obviously long for such an item and many are sold out. I’d like to save them if I can and hatch as many as possible. Any advice appreciated, thanks!

 

[JaeG]

I had a little Bantam hatch quail eggs for me. Only 2 eggs hatched - a week apart (older quail meant fertility was low so we must've stuck extras under her). She kept sitting despite having 1 chick already hatched, but it would depend on the hen.

I'd order an incubator to have as backup (or gather a few things to rig up a simple, homemade incubator, just in case) but if you can confine her to a small area with food and water right next to her she may keep sitting until they have all hatched. The sounds of the older clutch preparing to hatch may speed up the younger eggs a little too. But you will have to clean up after her as she'll be in hatching mode so won't leave the nest to relieve herself.