Got some Broody Hens!

[Clucklandia]

Hello! Several days ago, my hen Dolly (Silkie Hen), began squealing and puffing up her feathers every time I opened the nesting box. At first, I thought she was in the process of laying...until it was like this everyday non-stop! I finally noticed that she had eggs under her. (Most of them were not hers.) So it's been a while and she left the nest. So FINALLY I got to take a look at the eggs. 3 were pretty big when I candled them, 1 had nothing, 1 was very little developed, and the other 3 were fake decoy eggs!

Now another hen has gone broody but she shares the same eggs!! Hope and Dolly take turns sitting on them. Sometimes they sit on them together! I got an hour long video of them.

My question is not how to stop this. I'm actually quite happy!! I wanna know what's gonna happen when they hatch? Who will be mama?? They are both very good with each other. One problem is that they have their eggs in a high box in the coop. I'm worried about the chicks falling. I might just take the chicks once they dry.

5/5/2018 UPDATE:
The Barred Rock some what attacked me this morning! She is also laying on her side with her wing out... Sort of elevating her body? Yesterday they culled 1, today another. It looked like 3 day old development? Do they useally cull the dead ones a few days before hatch? I think it's day 20?

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Both will care for them.You can try moving the hens into a cage at night.

 

[RWise]

They need more eggs,,,,

 

[aart]

Many broodies can share the job wonderfully, others not so much.
Time will tell, but be ready to separate broodies and/or chicks if necessary.

One thing you need to do is mark the eggs that are developing and remove any new ones every day, remove the fakes too. You don't need to(and shouldn't) wait until the hens are off the nest. It's often easier to examine then nets and eggs after dark at night. But I've 'trained' my birds to allow me to 'look' when they're on the nest by frequently doing so, they get used to it.

The 'high nest'...they may be fine, once the chicks are hatched and dry,
move everyone(all chicks and hens) to a nest on the ground/floor. Or you could try to move them now, to place where your other birds won't bug them or lay more eggs.
Lots of ways to manage a broody.
This is a great thread for reference and to ask questions.
It's a long one but just start reading the first few pages, then browse thru some more at random.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/496101/broody-hen-thread

 

[Clucklandia]

Many broodies can share the job wonderfully, others not so much.
Time will tell, but be ready to separate broodies and/or chicks if necessary.

One thing you need to do is mark the eggs that are developing and remove any new ones every day, remove the fakes too. You don't need to(and shouldn't) wait until the hens are off the nest. It's often easier to examine then nets and eggs after dark at night. But I've 'trained' my birds to allow me to 'look' when they're on the nest by frequently doing so, they get used to it.

The 'high nest'...they may be fine, once the chicks are hatched and dry,
move everyone(all chicks and hens) to a nest on the ground/floor. Or you could try to move them now, to place where your other birds won't bug them or lay more eggs.
Lots of ways to manage a broody.
This is a great thread for reference and to ask questions.
It's a long one but just start reading the first few pages, then browse thru some more at random.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/496101/broody-hen-thread

Thank you! The Barred Rock some what attacked me this morning! She is also laying on her side with her wing out... Sort of elevating her body?

 

[Clucklandia]

5/5/2018 UPDATE:
The Barred Rock some what attacked me this morning! She is also laying on her side with her wing out... Sort of elevating her body?