Fuss about fertilised eggs with 2 broodies.

[Farmin Armen]

OK, read all this, but here's my dilemma (short of starting a new post):

I have two broody hens, and 8 other laying hens. Is it bad to gather all the eggs for one broody, separate that one broody from the flock, and break the broodiness of the other? If not bad, then how do I choose which one?

Reason behind this is to keep as many hens laying while one does the brooding. Thoughts?

 

[NatJ]

Is it bad to gather all the eggs for one broody, separate that one broody from the flock, and break the broodiness of the other?

It is not bad to do that.

If not bad, then how do I choose which one?

If you need to move a broody to a different nest, give her some some fake eggs to sit on for a day or two after you move her. If she stays there, give her the real eggs. But if she paces and fusses and will not sit in the new place, you could let her out and try moving the other broody to that place instead. (Choosing who gets to set by which is easy to move to the place you want her.)

Or you could choose by who is how mean to you while she's sitting (either choose the nicer one because she is easier to deal with, or choose the meaner one in hopes that she might protect the chicks better when they hatch.)

Or you could choose to break the one that usually lays better, and let the poorer layer continue sitting. (So you get more total eggs.)

Of course you could choose by which hen you like best, or which one might look most cute raising chicks, or any other reason that seems to make sense to you.

 

[BDutch]

This is possible as NatJ says. if you have no more than about 10 eggs to hatch (normal size eggs and chickens).

 

[Ridgerunner]

OK, read all this, but here's my dilemma (short of starting a new post):

Never be afraid to start a new thread. That way we can concentrate on your question without hijacking someone else's thread. I tend to not look at an old post with lots of responses, but in this case I've already posted in this thread so I checked to see if someone was talking to me.

I have two broody hens, and 8 other laying hens. Is it bad to gather all the eggs for one broody, separate that one broody from the flock, and break the broodiness of the other?

With the exception that I let my broody hens hatch with the flock instead of separating her, that's pretty much what I do. I don't want two broody hens incubating at the same time. Sometimes that works fine but I've had two broodies fight over the eggs as they were hatching and destroy half the eggs. Broodies have been known to fight over the chicks. Life is easier for me if I only have one broody at a time.

A lot depends on your individual goals, why do you want more chicks and how many do you want. I have a certain number of chicks that I hatch each year and I want those hatches spaced out so I can better manage freezer space. I've come up with a system that suites my goals and how I want to raise them. What you do needs to fit your goals.

If not bad, then how do I choose which one?

Flip a coin or just make a decision for any of the reasons NatJ came up with or come up with your own.

Reason behind this is to keep as many hens laying while one does the brooding.

It sounds like breaking one and letting the other hatch chicks is the best way for you to meet your goals. There is nothing wrong with breaking both, letting both hatch eggs, or breaking one and letting the other hatch. You just need to deal with the consequences whichever way you go.

 

[Farmin Armen]

Never be afraid to start a new thread. That way we can concentrate on your question without hijacking someone else's thread. I tend to not look at an old post with lots of responses, but in this case I've already posted in this thread so I checked to see if someone was talking to me.

OK, I appreciate the encouragement. I'm a newbie here so I'll be that guy starting all sorts of new posts (if I can't find a similar topic already).

A lot depends on your individual goals, why do you want more chicks and how many do you want. I have a certain number of chicks that I hatch each year and I want those hatches spaced out so I can better manage freezer space. I've come up with a system that suites my goals and how I want to raise them. What you do needs to fit your goals.

I'm still on "work from home" mode with my kiddos, so we just want to learn more together on hatching and what chickens do. Honestly, it's just for fun and another way to get more egg layers. The fertilized eggs came from my friends flock. Where they live, they're allowed to have roosters. The deal is that he brings me fertilized eggs, I hatch them with my broody buff orps, raise the chicks to pullets, keep a few hens and he keeps the rest for egg layers and meat birds. My kiddos enjoy it, they're learning and I'm keeping sane with my girls aka THERAPY CHICKENS.

Of course you could choose by which hen you like best, or which one might look most cute raising chicks, or any other reason that seems to make sense to you.

I'll go with this idea!! by the looks of them, I can tell which one will be the more protective mama.