I have a question about my hen thats sitting

[puddinswamp2]

the other hens keep pushing thier way in the nesting box and laying more and more eggs in there. Theres no way that small hen will be able to cover them all. What should I do?

 

[pdsavage]

Mark the eggs she has and take out all eggs layed after that or block her from the others.
Edit to say...Gratz on the broody,i am hoping mine will go broody soon,now, or anytime....

 

[puddinswamp2]

there must be 30 or 40 eggs in there now.

 

[perolane]

You need to seperate this hen from the others...there's no way she can cover 30-40 eggs. Put her in a pet crate or some type of enclosure alone with food & water and nest of 6 - 12 eggs (depends on the size of the hen).....throw away or put in incubator the rest of the eggs.

This is commonly called a "dump nest". Other hens will continue to lay in the same nest as the broody. All of the eggs she can cover will be at different stages of development & after the first chicks hatch, she will continue to sit waiting for the rest of the eggs. The chicks will often die as she will not get up so they can get food & water.

 

[puddinswamp2]

ok did that seperated her in a different pen and we only kept 8 or 9 eggs (there small eggs) thanx for the help