3 broody hens

[hayleymay]

Hello iv got pekin bantams 3 of my girls have gone broody and they all want to sit in the same nest box! iv only got 4 eggs to hatch should i put 2 in each nest box? they seem very friendly with each other and me and they are happy sitting all together i don't know if its best to leave all the eggs under one and put false eggs under the other 2?? Iv got no experience this is the first time iv decided to hatch some eggs . If anyone can help me xxxxxxx

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC - thanks for joining us. I would strongly recommend leaving only one hen broody and give her the eggs. You can break the broodiness of the other two by following the discussion on this thread - https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1112641/broody-buster. It basically involves putting a broody hen in a pet crate, and keeping it raised off the ground.

The reason that i suggest this is that once chicks hatch, one mother hen may attack chicks that she does not recognise as her own. With 3 on the go, it would be a tough situation particularly since this is your first rodeo.

 

[Teila]

G’Day from down under hayleymay

Welcome!

I have Pekins also; broodiness is definitely contagious with my gals and I totally agree with Ken's great advice.

I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun.

If you would like to share pictures and stories of your flock, you have come to the right place. BYC’ers never tire of these and do not back away slowly or commence eye rolling when the photo album or home videos come out

 

[Chicken Girl1]

 

[hayleymay]

thank you for your advice, I've only got a week untill my chicks are supposed to hatch so il get on trying to break the other two! Is it ok to put the 2 broody hens in a crate together? i will go to the pet shop tomorrow morning and get a crate!! Iv just shut the coop door for now so they can't get to the nest box is this ok to do? Sorry im totally new to all this xxx

 

[Teila]

Hey hayleymay

Yep, blocking access to the nest for a broody is one way to break her from broodiness but, in my experience, it does take longer because she will be frantically trying to access the nest she knows is on the other side.

If you put her in a crate, out of sight of the nest boxes, she should break anywhere from 2 to 5 days, depending on how determined she is.

I have heard of people putting two broodies in a crate together and it really depends on the broody herself. I know that if I try and put two of my broodies in the same crate, feathers fly

Just for fun, this is Blondie, one of my more determined broodies planking when I blocked off the nest box

This is her trying to break into our old coop when nest box access was denied:



and this is why she can not share a crate when broody or as we call her at these time in Blondzilla mode

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. Teila has given you great advice, and "Blondie" has adeptly illustrated what denied broodies can muster.

 

[hayleymay]

Ok thank you for your help

i will try putting them together as they sit together in the nest box all the time so hopefully they will be ok il have to keep them in my house as my coop is to small.. i will let you know what happens xxxx