brooding hens

[mekasmom]

I had a broody hen that set for about four weeks. About three weeks into her setting, another hen decided to set with her. There was about 25 eggs from various and sundry hens under them total. Hen1 gave up after a month and left Hen2 with the brood of eggs. A couple of days later two chicks hatched. That was three days ago. Hen 2 is still on the nest.
I took out the chicks to feed them because I didn't want them to die. Hen 2 is still sitting. I assume more eggs will hatch because they were laid over a long period of time before Hen2 took over the nest.

My question is--
Should I just take out chicks as they hatch to brood and feed. The original nesting hen just left them. And Hen 2 still wants to sit. I would rather they be brooded by a Mama Hen, but that didn't seem to happen. And I don't want to give up on all those eggs when I know some are still just a week into brooding. Would you just raid the nest of chicks as they hatch? Or how long would you leave them with Mama Hen2?

I've never had two nests merge like this before with all different ages of eggs.

 

[ChickieKeeta]

I would take the chicks as they hatch. I read momma loses
interest in sitting on eggs once she starts caring for chicks.

 

[Sharons7]

I'm wondering what chickens do when people aren't involved? I can imagine that the hens lay eggs, hatch the eggs, care for the chicks, they grow and repeat the cycle of life. Being new at this chicken keeping myself I too have many questions but I have learned in life that God made nature pretty cool in that instincts are there and if we let nature do what nature does we get eggs and more chickens. With that said I too have questions. This morning I was admiring the feathered ones and for a while a roo has taken interest in a particular hen. She does seem to sit a lot on the ground and i do have roosting places set up for them. This morning he snuggled right up next to her and seemed to groom her a bit. ( I think he likes her!) hubba hubba

Best guess as to age is nearly 4 months.
With that said I also have things come to mind memories of a mother hamster eating her young, when i was 5 yrs old. Mother guppie eating her offspring mid swim, causing us to separate the new from the old, and times when even I have wondered why I gave birth to cute babies that grew into teenagers.. Much I have yet to learn as well as experience in this new fluffy feathered family.
Blessed Be

 

[Ridgerunner]

You do have a dilemma. I agree you need to take the chicks as they hatch or mama will leave the nest with some of the chicks, leaving any unhatched eggs to die. I'd also suggest you candle the eggs to determine which are still viable. Here's a link to candling that may help.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-candling.html

The main reason I suggest candling is that a hen can cover and keep warm only so many eggs. A hen is constantly turning her eggs and moving them. That means that when a hen has too many eggs, some will be moved out from under her and will stop development and die. Then that egg will be moved back under her and another developing egg will be moved out from under her, will cool and die. With 25 eggs under one hen, it is likely several of the eggs have gone through this cooling process. You may not have many viable eggs left. If you candle the eggs, you can remove the dead eggs and give the rest the best chance to hatch. You will also know when the hatch should be coming to an end and be able to leave some chicks with mama for her to raise. And definitely mark the eggs you are leaving under her to hatch and remove any freshly laid eggs daily.

To avoid this problem in the future, I'd suggest you do one of two things. When a hen goes broody, before you give her eggs to hatch, move her to an isolated pen and lock her in so the other hens cannot lay with her. The pen needs to be larg enough for her to have food, water, and room to get off the nest and poop. Put some fake eggs, like golf balls or those plastic Easter eggs, in her nest for a couple of days to assure she will stay broody before you give her good eggs. Leave her locked in the broody pen until the eggs hatch.

If you don't want to do that, then mark the eggs you want her to hatch. A black permanent magic marker or sharpie works great. Give her all the eggs you want her to hatch at one time. Then, every day, remove any unmarked, freshly laid eggs. That way mama will be able to raise the chicks she hatches instead of having this problem.

Good luck!

editted for spelling

 

[mekasmom]

Quote:
I hadn't thought of that. It's been several days and no more eggs have hatched. I know a lot of them are probably dead. Candling seems like a good idea. Hopefully one hen will adopt a few chicks when all is said and done.
The two I am brooding under a heat light are doing good.