I have a broody splash marans that has been sitting on eggs about 3 weeks now. (Fertile eggs I placed under her are due to hatch next Friday). A few days ago, my black copper marans went broody. I had originally bought 8 fertile eggs, but found 14 eggs underneath the first broody bird, and split the eggs between the two birds, hoping that each will get 4 fertile eggs.
I have 3 nesting boxes, and 7 hens (two currently broody). This morning I noticed that only two of the hens were outside. I went to look inside the coop, and this is what I saw....
The RIR has laid, and is out in yard, and so has the blue copper marans, but the easter egger (sitting alone) is still in the box, and growled at me, like the other two broody birds. I did not think that easter eggers were broody. Now it appears I have 3 broody hens, and 4 others that need a box to lay in. Is broodiness learned, meaning, if one goes broody, the likelihood of followers is greater? I don't want to break the natural cycle, but don't know what to do.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
I have 3 nesting boxes, and 7 hens (two currently broody). This morning I noticed that only two of the hens were outside. I went to look inside the coop, and this is what I saw....
The RIR has laid, and is out in yard, and so has the blue copper marans, but the easter egger (sitting alone) is still in the box, and growled at me, like the other two broody birds. I did not think that easter eggers were broody. Now it appears I have 3 broody hens, and 4 others that need a box to lay in. Is broodiness learned, meaning, if one goes broody, the likelihood of followers is greater? I don't want to break the natural cycle, but don't know what to do.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.