Dueling, Broody Hens

[Kimquat]

Okay. So I recently posted on another forum about my poor, miserable, broody hen, Betty. She'd been very, very broody for about two weeks and I decided to provide her with some hatching eggs, which she took to right away. In the past few days, however, there has been an increasing competition between Betty and the next-in-line Lead Hen Blanche. Perhaps I'm incorrectly surmising their behavior, but they seem to puff out their feathers and attempt to look very imposing around one another. At least, as imposing as two silkies can appear. -_-

Today I noticed that while Betty was out having a dirt bath and some food, Blanche scooted in to take over setting the eggs, displacing poor Betty. Obviously upset by this turn of events, Betty moved into the neighboring nesting box to be broody atop pine shavings.

I'm not sure what to do - if I should do anything at all. Should I move Blanche and give Betty back her throne? Should I divide the eggs and then have two broody hens? I don't want to do the wrong thing! Is this normal behavior? :O

 

[Judy]

I'd probably try giving half the eggs to each if I didn't have a way to separate the mamas.

 

[cochins1088]

I've had hens do the same many times in the past. I would just simply know which boxes were hatching because as soon as one left to get a quick drink, another would jump in and often they would peck the hen with the eggs and chase her out for their turn. So I became used to there being different hens in those boxes, but as long as the eggs were covered, I figured they were fine and they were. All 22 of our hens go broody, so I actually have a problem with it and only allow a few to actually hatch hence the fighting over who gets too. So it's really your chioce, the eggs will be fine under any broody hen, but if you want to be nice, go ahead and spilt them between the two so that they can both be moms, if you do this, another bonus is that if one gives up, like they sometimes do, you have another to rely on.

 

[cochins1088]

I have also had hens hatch eggs together, with 2 hens in 1 box covering the eggs, but it doesn't sound like that will happen for you.

 

[Kimquat]

Judy ~ I may try that. Unfortunately, these two are the only hens currently laying. All of a sudden, everybody wants to have babies!

Cochins ~ It's funny because, despite the puffing up of feathers and posturing when they're out of the nest, they seem to just sit together in the nesting box the rest of the time, both hens waiting for the opportunity to take over the nest. I haven't seen either of them actually behave aggressively. This morning when I went out to check on them, they were both squeezed into the nesting box looking rather content. Crazy birds.

Thanks for the input, you guys.