- Oct 13, 2012
- 4
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My brooding chicken hen won't return to her nest of eggs after her daily stretch/water/feed. She instead goes into another nest with a different hen that is also on eggs. However, once I remove her from the neighbor's nest and put her back on her eggs she will stay there for the day/night. I have to stay on top of the situation or I could find her off the eggs for too long of a time. This is my (and their) first time hatching and I am worried what will happen to some of the chicks when the eggs hatch, if the goofy hen keeps leaving. Is it ok to put both hens together in a floor nest box at any time before the hatch date to ensure that all eggs (and then chicks) are attended to? I will have to move them anyway because they are up high. They obviously tolerate each other. They were even in the box together going broody before I got fertile eggs from someone with a rooster to put under them. She continues to do this daily and has done it since I first gave them the eggs. One is a cochin bantam (2 yr old) and the goofy one is a silkie (1 yr old). Does anyone have any experience with this? I am assuming that because she is not a reliable brooder she may also end up being an unreliable mother, but only time will tell. Would like some advice to head off trouble.