Aww! I'm sorry Trisha. I just had my first broody hatch out one little adorable chick.
I hope you get another "real" broody soon. When you do I would suggest you let her sit for a couple days to make sure she's really broody and then move her to a safe, secure, solitary nest some place away from the other hens. It's Ok if they can see each other just don't let them get into her nest.
You can use a dog crate or rabbit hutch or something of that sort.
One of the problems I had with my first broody (and why I think only one egg hatched) is that she would get off her nest to go eat, etc. and another hen would jump up there to lay an egg. My broody would come back and just chose another nest box since hers was occupied. Then, the other hen would leave but she wouldn't switch nest boxes so the eggs would get cold. I found myself going out regularly every day to make sure she was sitting on the right nest box. I had to physically move her several times. Next time .. I'm moving my broody to a separate area right away.
I hope you get another "real" broody soon. When you do I would suggest you let her sit for a couple days to make sure she's really broody and then move her to a safe, secure, solitary nest some place away from the other hens. It's Ok if they can see each other just don't let them get into her nest.
You can use a dog crate or rabbit hutch or something of that sort.
One of the problems I had with my first broody (and why I think only one egg hatched) is that she would get off her nest to go eat, etc. and another hen would jump up there to lay an egg. My broody would come back and just chose another nest box since hers was occupied. Then, the other hen would leave but she wouldn't switch nest boxes so the eggs would get cold. I found myself going out regularly every day to make sure she was sitting on the right nest box. I had to physically move her several times. Next time .. I'm moving my broody to a separate area right away.
