Couple of brooding questions

[TimG]

I have a broody chicken who is in the coop with all my laying hens. Sometimes when she goes on her daily eating, drinking, dusting and pooping walk another hen will hop on her clutch. This doesn't seem to bother her, she gets in another laying box and finds her way back to her clutch when the other hen leaves (sometimes I move the other hen and put the broody hen back on her clutch).

A second hen now seems to also be broody. Today they switched boxes. Whether I should have or not, I moved the broody hens back to their own clutches. When I was moving them, I noticed two extra eggs in the original clutch, one of which was broken and had made a mess of the nest. I could not help myself, I cleaned the eggs off (yes, with water). I did not scrub hard and did not clean thoroughly, but I did try to get the dried on eggs for the shells.

I put the original eggs back and broody hen seems happy.

I have a couple questions:

1) Is it normal for a broody hen to let another hen sit on her eggs for a while?

2) How much damage do you think I did by washing the eggs?

No, I haven't done any candling. I did hold an egg up to a light when I had them out of the box today, but I couldn't make anything out. That's not unusual for me with eggs that I've hatched out of an incubator. I doubt the light was bright enough for these brown eggs.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[PunkinPeep]

I have had some who didn't seem to mind someone else sitting on their clutch for a while, and some who would fight to the death (of the eggs) to keep it from happening. I try to isolate broody hens because of this. I end up with fewer broken eggs.

As to the water and the egg mess, i don't think anyone can predict for you how much damage you did or didn't do. But for future reference, even though it's gross, that stuff will start to wear off while the broody mama sits on it. It's best not to do that. Just wipe with a dry cloth, try not to spread the mess, and leave it alone.

 

[sonew123]

hm Tim I can finally help with an answer for you Right along the same lines as Punkinpeep. I always ahve hens switching in and out and sharing nests. Usually its to beat the other out of her nest. If you have a broody seperate her. I have 2 breeding pens with a broody in each-no fresh eggs in there either from other hens just "laying eggs". I keep them seperated until about 2 weeks after hatching-Then they go out with the rest-bt they always return to their pen-everyone is happy and safe. The eggs I agree too-if it happens again-take a rag and just wipe lightly off-the hens bare chests will rub any existing eggs yolky stuff off-eventually. My last clutch had a broken egg and I still got all the eggs to hatch-minus 2 clear. I would candle your eggs around day 10 -you do NOT want a bad egg exploiding under a broody

she will be so ranky stenchy and the coop will rank too.

 

[TimG]

Thanks. I knew I wasn't supposed to clean the eggs, but I could not help myself.

I don't have a separate pen available -- it's on my list of things to do early next week. This is my first ever broody and I haven't wanted to jeopardize things by moving her. Though with the amount she lets me handle her there should be no problem.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
FYI You probably won't have much success trying to move her now. I have never been able to move them once they've started setting anyway. I have to give the broody hen her new clutch of eggs in the isolation area. Once she hatches, of course, it won't be hard to move her and her chicks to a safer place if you choose to.

 

[BLaBauve]

I don't move my broodies - it's worked for me. They will sit on each others eggs, but they all seem to get along well. I have 10 hens in a large run/coop. Once the chicks hatch I take the top off a small rabbit cage and put it around the nest box where the hen and her chicks are. After about 3 days I move the cage and let them out with everyone else. Good Luck!

 

[Chickie'sMoma]

Quote:
if you do go to move the moma, move her eggs first and then show her where you moved them to. i have not had an issue doing this yet when i segregate them from the flock. just get a large dog crate or pen and make sure you have a set of food and water dishes in there too. make sure she has plenty of room to get up and move far enough away from the eggs to do any 'business' without making a mess on the eggs. you can always find a very large cardboard box and put it in an isolated area from your other chickens to let her brood over everything.

 

[TimG]

I now have two broodies in adjacent boxes, they sometimes switch places. I've decided to move them back on the right clutches because I don't want the one that has been broody for over 2 weeks to end up sitting 3 more weeks on the second clutch.

My current plan is to wait until the first clutch hatches and then move mother and chick plus the second broody to a separate area. I don't want to risk messing things up at day 17 with the first broody, but won't feel terrible if the move of the second broody doesn't go well.

Do you foresee any problems having both mother hens in the same area, one sitting for almost 2 weeks, and then letting the chicks that are about 2 weeks apart run in the same area?

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
I would be wary because the sitting mother could get off the nest to try to mother the new hatch. Or she may just abandon the eggs once you move her - just because she is moved. If it were me (and i know it isn't), i would move the mother with her hatch when they come, and i would leave the other mother with her eggs and then move her after her clutch hatches. I don't think you'll have any trouble switching mothers right now though. I never have.

 

[CheshieChick13]

Yeah, my broody made a yolky mess earlier too. Wish I had read this before I wiped the most affected eggs with a damp cloth