Well we had two girls go very broody on us (we're not ones to turn down a broody EVER), but our broody house was currently occupied by two other girls and their prodegies. So we set up one of our smaller coops that only has two nest boxes. We moved the girls in and all seemed well until Sandy (Buff Minorca) decided she wanted some food and water. Lucy Lu (Gold Laced Wyandott) saw her, went balistic, tossed poor Sandy around, then went back to her eggs. After that Sandy always sat with her back towards the inside of the coop. I was worried what would happen when the eggs hatched. Well the big day came (which was planned for my sons birthday). Sandy killed her first two (she's young and it's her first hatch) hatched out three more and abandoned the last egg after it had pipped. Lucy Lu hatched all 6 of hers, but one was lost due to my mistake. So for my sons 8th birthday he had 8 babies just as he had hoped. Well the next day they took the chicks out of the nest boxes and were sitting on the floor when I got out there. It looked to me like Sandy had stolen all the babies and poor Lucy Lu was trying to get them back, so I put a three foot wall between them and gave each girl their respective babies. Sandy immediateley abandoned her babies and jumped the fence to go sit with Lucy Lu and her babies. I pulled the wall out and let them cohabitate. It's been 4 days and they seem to be doing very well together. The girls seem to be sharing taking care of the chicks. Lucy Lu is showing them how to eat while Sandy sits with the one's that want to cuddle or visa versa. I'm amazed at how well they are doing together. Sandy and Lucy Lu are from the same batch we got in March, but have never been particularly fond of each other. Sandy was so small compared to the rest that she was always picked upon, but now they appear to have a pretty nice coexistance. At least for now. I'm wondering if anyone else has tried this and what problems they may have had. My biggest problem with broodies has been that they tend to stay with their babies much longer than neccesary. I had to convince one just recently that the kids could go off on their own now that they are 15 weeks. Ezzy just really likes to be a mother.
I really just want the girls to have a safe place for them to raise their babies. We had planned on separating them before the hatch, but time got away from me. So for now they will remain together as coparents and we will see what happens. Those chicks are getting pretty doted upon right now. I would think that when we let them out of the house they should be pretty well protected with two momma's and of course Big Daddy otherwise known as Rudy Roo(who isn't the father of any of them) will come and do his inspection and lets the other girls know not to mess with them. I guess if this works well we may try this again. It's nice to at least have the option when we run tight on room.
I really just want the girls to have a safe place for them to raise their babies. We had planned on separating them before the hatch, but time got away from me. So for now they will remain together as coparents and we will see what happens. Those chicks are getting pretty doted upon right now. I would think that when we let them out of the house they should be pretty well protected with two momma's and of course Big Daddy otherwise known as Rudy Roo(who isn't the father of any of them) will come and do his inspection and lets the other girls know not to mess with them. I guess if this works well we may try this again. It's nice to at least have the option when we run tight on room.
