Broody hens......what to do!!!!

[chickensinapub]

I now only have 4 hens and a cocekerel.

11 days ago; one went broody, so I left her the three eggs from that day, and thought it would be nice in increase the flock and have some chicks. All the chickens lay in the nest she is in; but I marked the eggs I gave her that day, and she has been very good at letting me take out the fresh ones from under her.

Yesterday, the second hen went broody. I had left an egg in the second nesting box to try and encourage the others to lay there; and she has sat on it ever since. If I go near her; she gets really mad and pecks at me like crazy. I therefore have been unable to mark the eggs she is sitting on; so dont know how to tell the fresh from the ones she had since yesterday.

I went up this morning, and the 1st broody hen was out having a quick feed. I went to check the nests, and broody hen no. 2 has moved all her eggs into the other's nest; and wont budge. So there are now a complete mix of eggs in one nest; under a hen I can't get near, and there is a very confused broody hen who wants her nest and eggs back!

WHAT SHALL I DO!!!!!

Thanks in advance!

 

[ruby m w]

Well, when my chickens go broody i put them in a uncomfortable cage.Somewhere where they have to perch.

 

[sumi]

I think you'll have to put on some strong gloves and remove broody #2 and her eggs from broody #1's nest, mark the eggs while you're at it and put her back in her own nest. See if you can shut her in there for awhile until she'll settled and more committed to sitting and staying put. I've had to shut broodies in their boxes for longish periods before and it doesn't harm them as long as you provide water and let them out for a while every day. Good luck!