How to stop chickens from eating the mother hens eggs.

[robbiebobbie]

I have a problem. This happened twice. My Black Australorps start sitting on the eggs to incubate and then either the mother hen or another hen starts eating them. I tried putting both the hens in a separate cage but then they won't sit on them. They either sit beside the eggs or they sit on top of the nest box I put in the cage. What is going on with this behavior? HELP!!!

 

[cottontail farm]

Are you sure they are eating them or is there a chance they are just breaking under her? Every time I have a broody hen at least one egg gets cracked naturally and there's yolk and mess to clean up.
Are you moving the hens and the eggs at night or during the day?

 

[aart]

If I'm sure a hen is broody(I wait for a day or two to see if she's serious-removing any eggs from under her),
and I want to let her hatch,
I put her in a separate area with fake eggs in the nest.

If she stays broody,
it can take up to a full day for her to 'get over' being moved,
if she's really broody it takes just a few hours.
Once she settles back in for a day or two,
then I give her fresh fertile eggs to set and hatch.

 

[mymilliefleur]

If I'm sure a hen is broody(I wait for a day or two to see if she's serious-removing any eggs from under her),
and I want to let her hatch,
I put her in a separate area with fake eggs in the nest.

If she stays broody,
it can take up to a full day for her to 'get over' being moved,
if she's really broody it takes just a few hours.
Once she settles back in for a day or two,
then I give her fresh fertile eggs to set and hatch.

This ^ is how I do it too. I wouldn't let two hens sit together. In my experience when you have two hens sitting together they end up jostling each other and breaking eggs, or fighting over the chicks.

Also, make sure you move broody hens to a new location after dark. They are far more likely to stay on the nest if you move them while they are sleeping.

 

[robbiebobbie]

Yes, I moved her during the night. This happened with two different hens at totally different times of the month. I am going to try what aart said to to do. That is a very good idea. I only tried for a day and she would not sit on them. I will wait longer next time. Thanks everyone for the ideas.