Broody being bullied off her nest

[Bluegray87]

Hi
I was incubating a batch of eggs, when after 7 days I discovered I had a broody hen. I placed the eggs with her and ever since she has been sitting on them, only getting up twice to eat and drink.
Today I discovered the more dominant hen in the flock removing her from her nest and proceeding to set herself down.
The broody spreads her body and sits facing forwards when she is sitting on them, yet the dominant hen sort of sits sideways on them.
What I want to know is should I be concerned with this behaviour or should I just leave them as at least the eggs are still being tended too?
The broody is a Gold Laced Cochin Bantam and the dominant is a red sexlink hen, the type bred for their high egg production so I didn't think they would get broody.
I have attached pictures of the hens in question.

 

[SueT]

I've been there too. The higher ups will get in the nest, possibly break eggs, or at least lay their own eggs. I was following a thread about letting broodies raise their chicks in the flock but it wasn't working out, the lower hen couldn't protect them. Maybe the broody has to be a dominant hen.

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

A broody needs to be isolated from the flock if you want her to sit on the nest. Sounds like the bully hen is the alpha hen exerting her dominance over the more submissive broody hen. Not only can broody hens be bullied but other chickens can lay eggs in the coop and the broody hen will get them and stick them under her making her clutch bigger. If you only want a set number of chicks providing all the eggs hatch you may want to limit her number. Make sure that she has a quiet space all to herself with plenty of food and water. She will do the rest.

 

[aart]

But did the RSL keep setting on them(is she broody?) ...
....or did she just want to lay in that nest??

Hopefully you marked the eggs so you know which have been there all along or if any have been added. It's often best to separate a broody hen from the flock with wire fencing so she is not disturbed while setting.

 

[Bluegray87]

Thanks for the replies guys, the RSL just wanted that nest box to lay in, I have now moved the broody into a coop on her own and will see how she does, do I still need to candle the eggs to check development or best to just leave them?

 

[SueT]

So @Bluegray87, how long has it been? Keep us updated. Good luck!

 

[Bluegray87]

So @Bluegray87, how long has it been? Keep us updated. Good luck!

We are up to day 14 today, I will keep you updated of the progress

 

[Abriana]

Hang a curtain over the nest box, or put a dog crate/other cage in there for her.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

A broody needs to be isolated from the flock if you want her to sit on the nest... Make sure that she has a quiet space all to herself with plenty of food and water. She will do the rest.

In nature or in a true free range setting a sitting hen choses a secluded place that suits her cosversity and lays a clutch of eggs. Then she begins to sit. It is even doubtful that the other hens knows where the sitting hen is incubating. Sitting hen must have a situation like this to do her best to hatch eggs. Providing a small say 4 X 4 foot pen that she can be isolated in. and a stand alone nadal nest that can be mover to wherever it is needed is the best way to do it.