First time broody help

[Smileybans]

My two silkies went broody around the same time so I put them into a small broody coop. I had Poof hatch out eggs from my incubator, they were two weeks in, and she ended up with three babies. Well now that the babies are here she’s trying to steal Floofs eggs. She wants to sit more. She cares for the babies, calling them to food, but still wants eggs. I’m not going to give her any more. Should I separate Poof and Floof? Let them work it out? Or just keep moving Poof back to her nest?

 

[Emelyn]

My two silkies went broody around the same time so I put them into a small broody coop. I had Poof hatch out eggs from my incubator, they were two weeks in, and she ended up with three babies. Well now that the babies are here she’s trying to steal Floofs eggs. She wants to sit more. She cares for the babies, calling them to food, but still wants eggs. I’m not going to give her any more. Should I separate Poof and Floof? Let them work it out? Or just keep moving Poof back to her nest?

I would separate them put Floof in a cage.

 

[Smileybans]

I would separate them put Floof in a cage.

Thank you for your input. I did move them but I moved Poof, and her babies. I didn’t want to chance breaking Floof since she’s been sitting for so long. But it took her at least three days to decide she actually wanted to sit.

Moving Poof was a bit harder since the dog kennel I have has wide slats. I did triple wire on it but the D’uccle chicks are so small they find ways to sneak out. It’s the same problem I had with them in the brooder. Hopefully the tarp and feed bags on the side of the kennel will keep them safe and contained.

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

Hardware cloth works great for those slats on the dog kennel. You don't have to go too far up unless you want to, and you can zip tie it on. Just cut a strip as tall as you want it high and as long as the perimeter of your dog kennel and zip it on. You made the right choice moving the one with hatched babies. Every time I try to move a hen mid sit it ends in tragedy.

 

[Smileybans]

Hardware cloth works great for those slats on the dog kennel. You don't have to go too far up unless you want to, and you can zip tie it on. Just cut a strip as tall as you want it high and as long as the perimeter of your dog kennel and zip it on. You made the right choice moving the one with hatched babies. Every time I try to move a hen mid sit it ends in tragedy.

I didn’t have any hardware cloth at the time and wanted Poof moved right away. She kept ignoring her babies if there were eggs around. I guess ignoring isn’t the right word but I can’t think of a better one. She would call the babies over to her but wouldn’t get up from the eggs but once to eat. She’s a good sitter that’s for sure. Now that the eggs are away from her she’s doing a better job watching after the babies too. I will definitely be changing out the chicken wire for hardware cloth when Poof is done using the kennel. HC is so much better than chicken wire.

When I first moved Poof she scared me. She wouldn’t call the babies over and hated being in the kennel. I was worried she would get so stressed that she would stop caring for them. But once I covered the sides and top more she settled down. She was easier to move too than Floof would have been. Floof is a mean broody and bites.