Our buff orpington went broody around June 1. On June 8, I bought five fertilized eggs which makes hatch date June 29 (or so). For the first week, the buff set great. Everyone was happy. We have five other hens who insist on laying in the same nest. She's okay with that and it's okay with me. On June 14, I opened the egg door to move the buff and retrieve the non-fertilized eggs. I noticed that she had a setting partner, a black bantam. Both were setting on Monday and Tuesday; maybe misery loves company. Both hens seem to want to hatch out these eggs; the buff is calm when I remove her from the nest to grab the non-fertilized eggs. The bantam pecks the heck out of my hand when I try to move her. How should I handle the double-mom situation? Will there be problems when the chicks pip? Will the girls fight over them?
