Broody on two clutches?

[pek]

Hello,
My broody hen is sitting on three eggs that are 10 days into incubation that are not hers and she is also sitting on 4 other eggs that are 5 days in and that are a mix of hers and another hen. Both sets are fertile, I just finished checking, but should I let her keep both clutches or take one set away? If I let her hatch both wouldnt one be two humid while the other hatched?
Thank you!

 

[NovaAman]

I think the problem would be more along the lines, is she going to stay put for the 5 days in between hatches? Do you have the eggs marked so you which are which?

I'd say if you have another hen come broody, move the younger eggs to that hen... But no, I don't think you'd have humidity issues with a broody like you would with an incubator.

 

[pek]

Thank you! I think she will stay on them, partly because when I took the eggs away to check them she sat on the spot were they had been. And I do have them marked so I can tell them apart.
Thanks again!

 

[mstricer]

So once she hatches the first set, what are you going to do with the second clutch?
That is the problem I foresee, when the first clutch hatches she will get up, just as the second one should go into lockdown. She won't set on them she will take the first chicks for a walk for a drink and food.

 

[pek]

I was wondering about that too but what I think Ill do is (I know that this is terrible but) take them away from her. She is a nice bird but not very friendly and the only bird she really likes is her nestmate but even gets mad at her sometimes. I'm not sure at how she would react to the chicks.

 

[NovaAman]

I think you should wait and see before you take the babies... I have a hen who I thought would be a terrible first time mom, and she is doing a wonderful job.

Also, the hen will sit still when you take the eggs to look them over. She's not leaving that nest till the eggs hatch and she's good and ready. The first clutch will need to eat within 2-3 days and she will take them out of the nest to do that. Thereby abandoning the unhatched eggs in deferrence to the chicks. You could try confining her with both clutches to a larger pet carrier, or even a larger tote box. She may then continue to set the unhatched eggs long enough... Put the food and water in with them so the chicks wont have far to go, and maybe there is a chance she'll finish the job.

Broody raised chicks are so much easier than brooder raised chicks...

 

[pek]

Okay, should i put a dish of food and water the same way you would for a incubator hatched clutch?