Hen sitting on broody?

[ladybugchickenfarms]

Hello everyone! We have a bantam hen who we believe is going broody. She has in the past, but something that hasn’t happened before is also occurring. The Black Australorp seems to be determined to sit on her. Not sit in the box with her, sit on top of her. I don’t have any idea what’s going on! The Easter Egger wants to do it too, it seems, but she’s not as persistent. The Australorp does nothing but go at her. The bantam will puff up and make high pitched noises when she comes by. Does anyone have any idea what’s going on? I don’t want her to get hurt! Any help is appreciated, thank you.

 

[ladybugchickenfarms]

Update: The bantam got up to drink some water, and while she was gone the EE went in the nesting box and laid an egg. There are two boxes but okay. The BA practically shoved her out and sat down for a few seconds before coming back out again, so I don’t think she needs to lay.

 

[LoveMyChickenBabies]

@Eggcessive ?

 

[aart]

Maybe the BA doesn't want the bantam to be broody?
Broodies act 'strange'... which can attract some aggression form the flock.

How many birds do you have?
Do you want the bantam to hatch some eggs, if she is actually broody?
I find having fake eggs in all nests helps 'spread the love'.

 

[ladybugchickenfarms]

Maybe the BA doesn't want the bantam to be broody?
Broodies act 'strange'... which can attract some aggression form the flock.

How many birds do you have?
Do you want the bantam to hatch some eggs, if she is actually broody?
I find having fake eggs in all nests helps 'spread the love'.

We have five hens total and no roosters. We’re considering letting her hatch and raise some chicks, but it’s not definite yet.

 

[ladybugchickenfarms]

If she does go broody and we let her hatch some eggs, would we have to separate her?

 

[sourland]

If she does go broody and we let her hatch some eggs, would we have to separate her?

Given that the rest of the flock is interfering with her early attempts at brooding - yes. One of the greatest causes of brooding failure is interference from other hens trying to lay in the same nest and cracking and breaking eggs.

 

[ladybugchickenfarms]

Given that the rest of the flock is interfering with her early attempts at brooding - yes. One of the greatest causes of brooding failure is interference from other hens trying to lay in the same nest and cracking and breaking eggs.

Alright, thank you.

 

[SueT]

2 nest boxes is not enough if you want to let a broody hatch eggs in one of them.
Also, lower ranking hens may not be able to protect their eggs and then chicks, and it sounds like yours is already losing the battle.....

 

[varidgerunner]

BA is going broody. Not uncommon for them to try to share a nest box, the bantams size difference leaves her more in a being brooded situation than sharing.