Hens in the same nesting box

[Misterpigeon124]

Forgot to say, as long as the watching pullet lets the layer out of the nesting box to eat and stuff, its no biggie!

She wasn't laying an egg, she had already laid that day. That's what I was confused about. If she's broody I might give her a few fertilized eggs

 

[aart]

I'm a bit new to raising chickens, so this may seem like a dumb question I have one hen that's laying and one that hasn't begun yet. For the past couple of days, neither has left the nesting box, and the non laying hen seems to be "protecting" the other hen. What's happening?

Are they in there all day?
Are they spending the nights in there too?
Are these your only birds?
One might be just 'standing by' while the new ones gets ready to lay.

 

[Misterpigeon124]

Are they in there all day?
Are they spending the nights in there too?
Are these your only birds?
One might be just 'standing by' while the new ones gets ready to lay.

Yes, these are my only two birds. They spend all day and night in there

 

[Misterpigeon124]

So I tried to move her out of the nesting box, and she didn't budge! She moved a fake egg back under her so I think you were right about the broody thing! If I got her hatching eggs thursday, would it be too late to put under her?

 

[aart]

They're both cochins! Not sure the exact age, but they're under a year old

How long have you had these birds?

So I tried to move her out of the nesting box, and she didn't budge! She moved a fake egg back under her so I think you were right about the broody thing! If I got her hatching eggs thursday, would it be too late to put under her?

You'll need to decide if you want her to hatch out some chicks, and how you will 'manage' it.
Do you have, or can you get, some fertile eggs?
Do you have the space needed? Both for more chickens and she may need to be separated by wire from the rest of the flock.
Do you have a plan on what to do with the inevitable males? Rehome, butcher, keep in separate 'bachelor pad'?
If you decide to let her hatch out some fertile eggs, 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


If you don't want her to hatch out chicks, best to break her broodiness promptly.
My experience goes about like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest, I put her in a wire dog crate with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop with feed and water.

I used to let them out a couple times a day, but now just once a day in the evening(you don't have to) and she would go out into the run, drop a huge turd, race around running, take a vigorous dust bath then head back to the nest... at which point I put her back in the crate. Each time her outings would lengthen a bit, eating, drinking and scratching more and on the 3rd afternoon she stayed out of the nest and went to roost that evening...event over, back to normal tho she didn't lay for another week or two. Or take her out of crate daily very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate.
Chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor after pic was taken.

 

[Misterpigeon124]

How long have you had these birds?



You'll need to decide if you want her to hatch out some chicks, and how you will 'manage' it.
Do you have, or can you get, some fertile eggs?
Do you have the space needed? Both for more chickens and she may need to be separated by wire from the rest of the flock.
Do you have a plan on what to do with the inevitable males? Rehome, butcher, keep in separate 'bachelor pad'?
If you decide to let her hatch out some fertile eggs, 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


If you don't want her to hatch out chicks, best to break her broodiness promptly.
My experience goes about like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest, I put her in a wire dog crate with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop with feed and water.

I used to let them out a couple times a day, but now just once a day in the evening(you don't have to) and she would go out into the run, drop a huge turd, race around running, take a vigorous dust bath then head back to the nest... at which point I put her back in the crate. Each time her outings would lengthen a bit, eating, drinking and scratching more and on the 3rd afternoon she stayed out of the nest and went to roost that evening...event over, back to normal tho she didn't lay for another week or two. Or take her out of crate daily very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate.
Chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor after pic was taken.
View attachment 1569015

I have enough space, and I could get eggs fairly easily. If I hatched a rooster, I'd give them away.