Can two broodies side by side with different hatch dates work?

[kslizza]

I've got a couple hens that seem intent on co-parenting. They are sitting side by side in my only nesting box and keep stealing eggs back and forth from each other (and adopting the daily egg from my third hen). I've got two eggs under them that are on day 17, and another 4 that are on day 13. The four are from my incubator batch - I was getting some weird temperature fluctuations so I moved some under the hens to hedge my bets and keep them stable. My intention was to move the four back into the incubator tomorrow when the first couple go into whatever the broody version of lockdown is. I'm wondering if it's possible to shift the early eggs to one of the hens and let her hatch those and keep the later eggs under the second hen.

If I move all the later eggs back to the incubator, should I try to have the broodies each hatch one so their maternal instincts are satisfied? Or can I just wait and see which hen hatches the two and put some incubator eggs under the remaining hen if she still seems broody?

I don't really have anywhere to isolate the hens and chicks together, but I could take any newly hatched chicks directly into a brooder for a few days before the rest of the incubator batch hatch if they would be in danger with the big girls in a turf war. I just hate to steal their babies.

So many options, but I'm not sure the consequences of any of them.

 

[binza1979]

I have no idea. I just had my first ever hatch from a broody this weekend. I had a broody last summer that failed...she would let others sit on her nest, so I don't know what to tell you--besides good luck!

 

[texas75563]

I'd split the 2 hatch dates up. Put the 2 under 1 hen and the 4 under the other hen. They both have eggs, they both will have chicks, and all is well.

I don't have any hens. That is what I would do.