Broody hen keeps changing boxes...

[mtma]

I have two hens that went broody on the same day last week. One seems like she has all the good traits of a broody mom. The other gets feisty and protective, but changes boxes every day!! She is leaving the original eggs behind, and I keep putting them back under her. We are leaving town and will have a house sitter looking after the chickens and other pets, and I don't think anyone will be as concerned about these little eggs trying to grow as me. Should I just give her eggs to the mama who is taking good care of her clutch, and let her do whatever while we're away? Thanks in advance!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Are the eggs the same age? If nit, then you can't give them to the other one. Why not just put the switcher in a kennel so she has to nest there?

 

[mtma]

The eggs are the same age.

 

[NatJ]

Should I just give her eggs to the mama who is taking good care of her clutch, and let her do whatever while we're away?

That's probably the best choice. Just make sure the good mother does not have so many eggs they stick out and get cold.

You could make a nice clutch of fake eggs in one other nestbox, so the sort-of broody has a place to sit (if she wants to) without disturbing the good one. Fake eggs won't go bad the way real ones do if she keeps moving ("Fake eggs" could be golf balls, or egg-shaped rocks, or actual wood/ceramic/plastic things sold as fake eggs. As long as it's about the right size and shape, the hens don't care.)

 

[JacinLarkwell]

What breed is the good mama and how many eggs total are there?

 

[mtma]

The good mama is a Blue Copper Marans, and the switcher is a crazy barnyard mix. The BCM has about 6 eggs under her, and the other only has 2. They went broody the same day.

 

[mtma]

As far as the house sitter goes, I think I will mark the eggs that have been incubating and call it good at that, so she can collect anything not marked and/or not under the BCM.