3 broodys on one clutch?

[Mjismom]

Update! I candled the eggs. 6 are far along, and 5 I thought stopped developing but I candled them again and one of the embryos was moving! So, that means a staggered hatch, right?

So, I put those 5 not-so-developed eggs into the bucket with the lip on the ground and put one of the other broodies on them. And she accepted them!

I also brought the other hen out of broody jail because I didn’t feel right leaving her alone at night on the cold concrete. We put her up on the roosting bars and she seems to be staying there but I will check again in the morning. She may need broody jail again but I may put her in a small dog crate inside the coop/run with the rest of the flock instead.

I am still wondering if I should put the chosen mamas and their nests in the old coop together but I read that would make it difficult to introduce the chicks to the flock later. Is that true? Should I keep everyone together the way they are?

 

[Slothinc]

Update! I candled the eggs. 6 are far along, and 5 I thought stopped developing but I candled them again and one of the embryos was moving! So, that means a staggered hatch, right?

So, I put those 5 not-so-developed eggs into the bucket with the lip on the ground and put one of the other broodies on them. And she accepted them!

I also brought the other hen out of broody jail because I didn’t feel right leaving her alone at night on the cold concrete. We put her up on the roosting bars and she seems to be staying there but I will check again in the morning. She may need broody jail again but I may put her in a small dog crate inside the coop/run with the rest of the flock instead.

I am still wondering if I should put the chosen mamas and their nests in the old coop together but I read that would make it difficult to introduce the chicks to the flock later. Is that true? Should I keep everyone together the way they are?

I might put one of the broodies and clutches into the separate area, just because sometimes when the first batch hatches, the second broody will leave her nest to try and mother the newly hatched chicks. It doesn’t happen all the time, but sometimes it does!

I wouldn’t be too worried about the chicks adapting to the flock if separated temporarily. If you do end up putting one of the broodies into the separate area, then after 2-3 days, put her and the babies back with the rest of the flock - they should be fine, mama will protect them.

Alternately, you could just leave everyone where they are and keep a close eye out. If the second mom abandons her eggs after the first batch hatches, pop the second batch into the incubator.

 

[MROO]

Update! I candled the eggs. 6 are far along, and 5 I thought stopped developing but I candled them again and one of the embryos was moving! So, that means a staggered hatch, right?

So, I put those 5 not-so-developed eggs into the bucket with the lip on the ground and put one of the other broodies on them. And she accepted them!

I also brought the other hen out of broody jail because I didn’t feel right leaving her alone at night on the cold concrete. We put her up on the roosting bars and she seems to be staying there but I will check again in the morning. She may need broody jail again but I may put her in a small dog crate inside the coop/run with the rest of the flock instead.

I am still wondering if I should put the chosen mamas and their nests in the old coop together but I read that would make it difficult to introduce the chicks to the flock later. Is that true? Should I keep everyone together the way they are?

Make sure the babies have places to hide where the biggies can't reach them - like a "creep" used for feeding young livestock, but covered. I used cardboard tubes used for packaging maps, posters, artwork and such. They're sturdy, inexpensive and disposable. I also have a plastic milkcrate with small openings at either end, so babies can get in quickly and have an escape route, too. Just make sure to smooth off any sharp cut edges and you'll have a multiuse tool - open side down, it's a safety cave; open side up, it's a nesting box.

 

[Mjismom]

Thank you so much! The hen in the bucket ended up getting confused a couple times already and jumping in the first hen’s nest again. So I ended up moving that second clutch into the old coop/broody jail with the two other broodies. I figure they can share that one for now and see if they can maybe still save those chicks.

And I forgot about providing an escape for the chicks! I think I have a plastic crate around! Thank you! Maybe just keeping it in a spot upside down in the run?

 

[MROO]

And I forgot about providing an escape for the chicks! I think I have a plastic crate around! Thank you! Maybe just keeping it in a spot upside down in the run?

That should work. I had to put a weight on mine to keep zoomers from overturning it, but it worked like a charm.