I know some people have broodies together just fine. Our experience this spring was not a very good one in that aspect. We had four broodies around Easter due within 1 week of each other. Two hatched the same day but became very combative and one turned on her chicks, she began attacking all the chicks. This was an isolated incident and we took her chicks when we felt they were threatened. For several days the other hen mothered both sets of chicks but she was a first time mother and got confused about a week later. We took half the chicks and brooded them ourselves leaving her with four. She did well with this number for another week when at about three- four weeks old she began to foget to call her chicks to her. We pulled them all for their safety. She will be allowed another chance but we have not had any fertile eggs when she went broody over the summer. The first one that was separated from her chicks was also a first time mother she did go broody again shortly after being separated and was allowed to hatch another clutch. She did very well with them and they stayed with the adult flock even after she was done brooding them(around 5 weeks).
The other two broodies were due within two days of each other and I had more hope for them. However two newly hatched chicks stumbled out and appeared to have gone back to the wrong Mama who was in lockdown and being very defensive she killed one of the two chicks. Again this was our only instance of this. I believe it really depends on the temperaments of the hens. The two that hatched later were separated for about a week after the one chick was killed and eventually after being able to see each other for several days were placed together without a problem and introduced back to the main flock they did quite well and though never completely working together they did both feed and watch out for the chicks. At night they both had their own chicks so it was an interesting experience. From our experiences I do plan to always separate the broodies until a few days after hatch unless they have previously brooded chicks with another hen and done very well.
Unfortunately we have not hatched more than five broody clutches this year which is a very small window. Our golden laced sebright went broody but broke when we moved her for safety. Our self blue OEGB just quite literally the day we picked up fertile eggs for her. Thanks Crocket. Lol
We have also had the ditzy mother, Lovey(a gray silkie) try to brood again but the eggs ended up not being fertile and she gave up before we could acquire any fertile ones. Which is fine because Lovey is such a dedicated broody that she loses quite a bit of weight. After going broody three times since Easter I had to decide to keep pulling her out until she broke. We just recently had the two silke hens and Crocket broody but as I said they all quit before we got the fertile eggs.
My precious Cinder went broody during the 100+* spell we had this summer and I decided not to get her fertile eggs as she was hot to the point I would find her dead in the nest box. Shortly after she quit an unknown predator got her. I regret that she didn't get to be a Mommy but it was out of care for her that I didn't.
So it's been an interesting broody season for us around here. I'm happy to say that as a whole our flock did amazing with very little pecking of the chicks when introduced. We did have one curious hen attack an egg that was hatching early before the hen(our crazy broody that DH2B us afraid to put his hand under) was separated for lockdown. The chick unfortunately was gone when we got there and I was livid. She was not separate for incubation BC nobody dared go near her nest lol momma and the rest of the clutch were separated immediately and I sold that hen shortly after. I was quite surprised that the broody allowed the other hen in the nest we which was a very very odd thing for her.
All in all I'd say it was a success! We learned some things certainly. We definitely experienced the broody bug and it's contagion. Lol we did lose a broody chick to a predator while it was still under it's mother's care. I'm very excited for next year and I can't wait to have some other ladies go broody and see how they do next year hopefully.
My last hatch gave us a very beautiful paint silkie that is seven weeks and looking like a pullet. It may have a single comb I'm not sure yet but I just love it anyways, hoping for a pullet.
We did of course have to put the eggs we got for the broodies that quit into the incubator, which had to be brought back out. 13 silkie eggs and 4 lavender/split orp eggs, set last Sunday. Seeing a lot of development in quite a few silkie eggs can't wait to see what we get! We hope to add another cockeral, assuming the paint is a pullet, and as many pullets as we can. Have one maybe two pullets that hatched from our own silkies one a little partridge the other the jury is still out on is from a white roo over our gray hen and is quite a cool looking little thing. Mostly white with splash looking wing tips. Hopefully they are both girls and I'm correct.
Also have a cockeral from the red partridge roo we had(taken by predator) over the buff hen(also taken by predator) he will more than likely be staying. Looks like a perfect cross between Mommy and Daddy.
