Broody abandoned remaining eggs

[wildgreen]

I have two broody hens right now, one (Donna) with a due date of July 8 and the other (Athena) July 12. However, one of Donna’s eggs hatched early on the 3rd. I’m not sure if it was because of the really hot and humid weather or if the egg had been developing prior somehow. I gave her a fresh set of eggs when I noticed she was broody so I really don’t know. A second egg hatched yesterday on the 5th. Interestingly, both eggs that hatched early were Brabanter mixes which are smaller than the other breeds so perhaps that is why they hatched early. This morning, Donna has abandoned the remaining four eggs in the clutch, and I noticed one had pipped and was zipping.

I put the four remaining eggs under my second broody. I expect she’ll hatch the four and end up abandoning her original clutch of five before they hatch. I plan to put those in the incubator when that happens.

My question is - once those hatch, can I give them back to one of the broodies? Will they be accepted? I know they’ll be smaller and weaker than the rest but I’d like to keep them all with a mom so I don’t have to worry about introducing them to the rest of the flock when they’re older. My last broody was separated for only a week before I put her and her babies with the rest of the flock and they did wonderfully and it was so much simpler than trying to introduce the babies later on.

 

[Debbie292d]

I would definitely try giving them back to her but not right after they hatch. She’s got to take care of the ones she’s got and a couple lagging behind she might not be able to care for.

I’d give them at least 24 hours before trying it. That way they are stronger and can keep up better.

I’ve had two hens in the past, both with chicks the same age, and the chicks followed either/or. If one hen suddenly realized she had no chicks, she’d come over to the other hen and cluck and get a couple to join her.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I would have done that differently. Instead of giving those eggs to the other broody I'd have put them in the incubator under lockdown conditions and tried giving any that hatched to the first broody. Put them under her at night and be out there at daybreak to see if she accepted them. By the time they dry off they should be able to keep up with her. If the broody accepts them she shouldn't just abandon them.

That would avoid your second broody abandoning her eggs. I think you have a much greater chance of the first broody accepting them than the second broody accepting the later hatchers. I don't know if you still have time to try that.

If it is too late you can try giving the latest chicks to the second broody. Some will accept about any chicks but that is a fairly large window of ages. Success is possible but I would not expect it.

Good luck. These staggered hatches are a pain.

 

[wildgreen]

I would definitely try giving them back to her but not right after they hatch. She’s got to take care of the ones she’s got and a couple lagging behind she might not be able to care for.

I’d give them at least 24 hours before trying it. That way they are stronger and can keep up better.

I’ve had two hens in the past, both with chicks the same age, and the chicks followed either/or. If one hen suddenly realized she had no chicks, she’d come over to the other hen and cluck and get a couple to join her.

Thank you!

 

[wildgreen]

I would have done that differently. Instead of giving those eggs to the other broody I'd have put them in the incubator under lockdown conditions and tried giving any that hatched to the first broody. Put them under her at night and be out there at daybreak to see if she accepted them. By the time they dry off they should be able to keep up with her. If the broody accepts them she shouldn't just abandon them.

That would avoid your second broody abandoning her eggs. I think you have a much greater chance of the first broody accepting them than the second broody accepting the later hatchers. I don't know if you still have time to try that.

If it is too late you can try giving the latest chicks to the second broody. Some will accept about any chicks but that is a fairly large window of ages. Success is possible but I would not expect it.

Good luck. These staggered hatches are a pain.

Thank you. I think I still have time to do this. If it doesn’t work out then I’ll just introduce them later on!