@ Broody Chickens

[Somebunnieslove]

So....Now I have two broody chickens.

I have one chicken that loves to go broody. Last year she went broody twice. First time she had 2 hatch the second time one. She went Broody again this spring. I kept taking the eggs from her but it didn't stop her broodiness. I finally decided to let her go. I left all of ones days eggs under her. I tried moving her to the empty coop so she could be broody by herself and the other chickens would not be able to lay more eggs in her nest. She got off the nest. I thought I would let her stay in overnight and if she was still off in the morning, I would figure that I cured her of her broodiness. The next morning she was still off the eggs and they were cold. I took those away from her. What do you think happened? Yup...she went back to the main coop egg box and started sitting again. So I took all the eggs from that day and with a permanent marker I marked all the eggs so I would know which ones she had started with. The other chickens still lay in her box. I am putting up more nest boxes this weekend. She changes boxes in the main coop that she is sitting on. How long can she be off the eggs before they are not fertile? She hasn't changed boxes for a bunch of days now. I move the eggs with her when I notice.

So yesterday I went out and there is another one that has gone broody. What should I do? The second one is still broody today. But now she is sitting on the eggs that the original broody chicken was laying on. I split them up between the two of them. Thinking that is not the best idea. What would happen if they all hatched the same day under these two chickens. Would they each stay with the ones that hatched under them? Would they peck at the others babies? I am thinking that I should give them back to the original broody chicken because I know she has great staying power. This is day 14 so the eggs, if fertile, should hatch in about a week. HELP!!!!

 

[Camellia]

eggs can last up to 4 hours without warmth, it's quite amazing how much resilience chicken eggs have. Anyways, usually when 2 hens are broody at the same time they'll work as a pair to take care of their chicks. Some can be aggressive towards one another, if you see this happen it's best you separate them.
Hens will literally FIGHT over eggs, they'll sit on top of one another, it's pretty hilarious.

 

[Somebunnieslove]

So do you think I should put the eggs back under the original broody hen and try to get the other hen to stop being broody. I was thinking I could put her in the other empty coop for a couple of days with out any eggs (but food and water of course).

 

[Camellia]

So do you think I should put the eggs back under the original broody hen and try to get the other hen to stop being broody. I was thinking I could put her in the other empty coop for a couple of days with out any eggs (but food and water of course).

That's probably the best idea. Hens can accidentally crack each others eggs whilst fighting over a nesting box

 

[Somebunnieslove]

Thanks. I followed the instructions from this article I found on backyard chickens and put her into one of my empty Rabbit hutches. https://the-chicken-chick.com/broody-breaker-when-hens-mood-to-hatch/ This is a great site. I will post photos of baby chicks in about a week if all goes well.