4 broody hens keep switching nesting boxes

[hedgerocks]

I had one hen go broody sitting on eight eggs and it seems it went contagious. Another chicken went broody on another nesting box and then third went broody on the third and final box and then a fourth went broody on a make shift box on the coop floor. This is all well and good I'm happy to expand the flock but the curious thing is that the hens kept switching boxes. The dominant hen has stayed put but the others its become a game of musical chairs. I'm worried because one of the later hens has jumped on the first box. And now a fifth hen has gone broody and is trying to sit on eggs too! I was going to put up some hardware cloth to keep them in but it felt a little bit like chicken jail. Also I'm not really sure anymore who belongs where? Any advice?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have the same situation but I knew it would happen when I set some eggs under a few broody bantams. I plan to pull all chicks as they hatch so for me it will be okay. I will than break them all at one time.

When multiple hens sit next to each other or they swap nests often you will end up with hens fighting and attacking chicks as it's a who's who's situation.

Are your eggs all set in the same period, within 24 hours of each other? If not you will also have staggered hatches which will turn into a mess too.

Hens will leave the nest generally 2 days after the first chick hatches. Another problem is hens won't leave the nest in those first 2 days, so wandering chicks will often get chilled or attacked, so separating out moms is important for that reason too.

 

[hedgerocks]

my plan was to put up hardware cloth once the chicks start hatching to prevent them from wandering off and to let them get bonded - then after a few days once everyone knows who belongs to who - moving all the hens and chicks to an unused chicken tractor

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

my plan was to put up hardware cloth once the chicks start hatching to prevent them from wandering off and to let them get bonded - then after a few days once everyone knows who belongs to who - moving all the hens and chicks to an unused chicken tractor

Hopefully it works. You just never know with chickens. Good you have a plan.