Broody hens. Can I put them together?

OurLittlebitRanch

In the Brooder
8 Years
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We raise pullets, but from the hatchery. We have never had luck with incubators or letting our hens set on a nest BUT. I have a Cochin that went broody, I separated her from all my other hens, she has about 8 eggs and so far so good, about 18 days to go and we will see how she did.
One of my Mom's Marans (which are not suppose to be broody!) has gone broody!!! My Cochin has been on her eggs for about 10 days now. Can I take my Marans and the eggs under her and put her in with my other broody hen, or will that cause problems?
 
As long as you don't put them in the same nest box it shouldn't be a problem.
 
No. My neighbors did that with two of theirs and when one of them got off the nest to eat and came back thinking the other broody hen took her eggs pecked her face to a bloody mess. It was horrible. Lucky for them with treatment they were able to save the hen and she is fine with six little chicks. She wasnt able to see for a few days till the swelling went down. Its been a month since that happened.
 
I recently had two broody hens at the same time. I had them in seperate boxes during incubation with a common area, so no problems there, but once the eggs hatched and the chicks become mobile I was in the dark with what to do next. After some research and wishful thinking I tried to let the two broods comingle but that didn`t last long. The hens showed aggressive behaviour towards each other and I didn`t trust they would work it out without harm done. So I was forced to build another brooder to house the two of them. I won`t let it happen again.
 
Thanks everyone!
It appears that 4 or 5 of my hens have gone broody!! I decided not to chance it, leave my hen that I already separated alone and not let the other hens set. With only 15 hens I can't afford to have that many hens hoarding eggs!!!
 

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