Leghorn stole the nest

[BreeShu]

As the title says, I have a white leghorn who kicked my broody senior mutt mom off. She had already been sitting for over two weeks and had proven to be a good mom in the past. I noticed in the last two days, one of my younger leghorns has booted her and taken over. I'm not planning to interfere at this time but I am concerned as I've read leghorns are not great moms. This hen is young and flighty, she flees as soon as I enter the run. She has been so aggressive with my senior hen, ripping feathers out till she gives up the box and I can tell a couple eggs were crushed in the disputes. Should I just continue to keep watch over this final week or intervene and see if the senior will go back to constant sitting?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I always block off the nesting site to other hens if I'm going to let one set. Other hens will add eggs, and break them. If you can find a way to return the original hen to the nest I would. Hopefully you have been removing extra eggs, and if any eggs were broken you cleaned up the nest. Broken eggs can cause other eggs to die due to the bacteria growth, and that doesn't end well.

 

[Perris]

the last two days, one of my younger leghorns has booted her and taken over

is the young one sitting well, staying on night and day, turning the eggs etc.?

I'm not planning to interfere at this time but I am concerned

that's how I'd be too

This hen is young and flighty

does she panic and fly off if you approach the nest, or just sit and swear / peck at you?

She has been so aggressive with my senior hen

that can be a good thing in a broody; they need to be ready to defend their chicks with all they've got

a couple eggs were crushed in the disputes

as oldhenlikesdogs says, that can be a problem if not cleaned up by the broody or you. Are they out of the nest now? if not, that should be a priority intervention.

Should I just continue to keep watch over this final week or intervene

crushed eggs apart, I'd continue to observe from a distance or with a discrete cam

see if the senior will go back to constant sitting?

what has she been doing these last 2 days? sitting elsewhere, or given up already? unless she's stayed sitting elsewhere, I can't see her resume. She may have internalised it as the nest been predated, so her hormones will have switched off.

She had already been sitting for over two weeks and had proven to be a good mom in the past

so you have experience with broodies in general and her in particular. That should help you navigate going forward.

 

[BreeShu]

is the young one sitting well, staying on night and day, turning the eggs etc.?

The young one appears to be sitting well. I have a camera just outside the coop entrance so I can see how often she gets up to poop and eat. Mostly, it is my daily removal of any new eggs that gets her up.

does she panic and fly off if you approach the nest, or just sit and swear / peck at you?

Flys off. She's a very flighty girl.

what has she been doing these last 2 days? sitting elsewhere, or given up already? unless she's stayed sitting elsewhere, I can't see her resume. She may have internalised it as the nest been predated, so her hormones will have switched off.

She has attempted to sit elsewhere on the eggs I collect regularly. But not with the protective vigor she had on the original set.

 

[BreeShu]

For additional context. This is the first time I'm allowing the hens to sit within the main coup. Normally, I remove the broody moms and eggs to a smaller enclosed area. I wanted to see how the chicks are naturally raised within the flock rather than being introduced back in later. I've tried multiple introduction styles, and some work well, others don't. This is another area of learning for me.

 

[Perris]

The young one appears to be sitting well. I have a camera just outside the coop entrance so I can see how often she gets up to poop and eat. Mostly, it is my daily removal of any new eggs that gets her up.

Flys off. She's a very flighty girl.

She has attempted to sit elsewhere on the eggs I collect regularly. But not with the protective vigor she had on the original set.

I'd be inclined to continue what you are doing then and not intervene, at least not yet. Maybe the older one will act as co-broody when they hatch or if the young flighty one gets spooked.

 

[Perris]

For additional context. This is the first time I'm allowing the hens to sit within the main coup. Normally, I remove the broody moms and eggs to a smaller enclosed area. I wanted to see how the chicks are naturally raised within the flock rather than being introduced back in later. I've tried multiple introduction styles, and some work well, others don't. This is another area of learning for me.

This is how I normally do it, and I can assure you it varies with the hen and the flock dynamics each time. Every one is different! Even with the same broody different years!