Broodie hatching and left over eggs.

[gmom66charger]

I had two hens go broody while gone on vacation. Long story short I have eggs that are only days away from hatching but they quit sitting on them because between the two 4 chicks hatched.

I found one egg yesterday that was pipping so I took the broodier of the two and put her back on the nest. He hatched last night.

Question if I remove one hen and put chicks with her, will my other broody return to setting on the nest with eggs?

 

[Chickenlover4ever!]

Well it depends, broody hens can be very picky and I have had some brutal encounters with one broody killing another’s chicks. I would suggest waiting till night and very sneakily putting the lives chicks under the one hen. The hens could become unbroody if they are moved from a nest. So try to keep them on the same nest. They usually accept egg transfers well, chick transfers are the most dangerous and risky so keep a very close eye and remove them if the other normal hens have access to the nest.

 

[gmom66charger]

Thank you for responding.What is so funny is they were in nests right next to each other. The day before the chicks hatched Jasmine moved half of her eggs into Lil mamma nest and they were sharing.

Have had another hatch since I posted and tonight another half way out of shell. I guess I'll wait and see what nature does. The chicks go back and forth between the hens sharing the nest, I never know which one they will be under.

Question with the other two hens. I have not seperated anyone. My rooster still goes in at night as well. Since the hatching started, Rainbow, who most of the eggs and chicks actually belong to has briefly sat on the eggs and the chicks with no problems.

My rooster keeps a good eye on his hens. He won't go in at night until they are all accounted for. I've heard some remove the rooster and some don't.

If a hen or rooster was going to attack the chicks would it be right away or later?

 

[gmom66charger]

UPDATE: I did a float test on Saturday. Kept 9 eggs that passed and threw away about 12. I put the 9 eggs back in the shared nest. Both my broodies have been out walking the pen with 6 chicks and not sitting on the nest during the day but go back with the chicks at night.

Thought about removing all eggs when I locked them up last night but it was dark. Went out this morning to open the pen and there is a new chick and 2 eggs in the process of hatching.

Guess I will give them a little more time.