Broody Hen Thread!

Quote:
I just had an EE and 2 Ameraucanas hatch out 8 Ameraucana chicks all on the same nest. I added 3 more that I hatched in the incubator at the same time. They are all the same age (just turned a year old) and are first time moms. The EE seems to be "Head Momma". This morning they took the babies out of the nest box for the first time and the 2 Ameraucanas went right outside and tried to call the babies out ~ Head Momma got really upset and called all the babies to her and kept them inside. The Backup Mommas came back inside to Head Momma. This could be interesting 11 babies and 3 Mommas.

There are 2 more EE and 1 Ameraucana hens and an Ameraucana roo in this run and there is an attached run with some bantam cochins and a couple assorted LF hens. I am a little concerned that the chicks can go through the fencing to the other run or outside the runs, so I think I need to put up a couple inches of chicken wire in the inside of the run to keep them in until they get too big to fit through.
 
Thank you Jferlisi and Zaxby's2! I will just leave them be then.
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I have 3 broody hens right now! I have 1 1-year-old silkie and this is her 2nd time being broody -- she already hatched out 2 babies this winter. I really figured this would be my only broody since all my birds are from a hatchery. But apparently it really is catching because now I have 2 dark cornish that have decided to go broody (and a 3rd one that is thinking about it).

Does anyone have experience with dark cornish being broody?
 
I have a broody who is a determined over achiever. She is a first timer but must be top of the pecking order. She has hatched 3 eggs, but is not satisfied. She killed a low order hen that got too near her chicks, and since then, the chicks have the run of the coop and everyone steps lightly when they are out and about. She kicked another broody off her nest and has taken over the eggs and is brooding them along with her 3 chicks. She has flogged me when I put down feed and water for her chicks and will fly out of the nest and attack when anything gets near. She is a real pain, but dedicated. The cats no longer sleep in the coop. The up- rooted broody has established a nest above ground level and crazy broody, and I have given her some new eggs. I am thinking of removing her from the coop before the eggs hatch since crazy broody might try to takeover the chicks and could hurt her.

Has anyone else had a broody raise chicks (they are 1.5 weeks old now) and brood more eggs at the same time?
 

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