Lonely egg?

[mamaj323]

Hi guys! I have 2 broodys. Gloria went first and I set her up with 8 eggs in a large dog crate in the coop. She's a happy chicken on day 12. A couple days later Lexi joined her in broodiness. I have tried to move her multiple times and ways to a more sectioned off space and she houdinis her way back to her nest box. So I decided we'd try it and gave her 4 eggs. She's on day 7 tonight. One was infertile, one got crushed somehow and tonight when I candled one was severely cracked and obviously dead. Number 4 looks excellent! Lots of nice veining.
My question is: Is it OK for a broody to sit on only one egg? Should I start her over? Give her a couple of Glorias?
These are my first broodys so I'm just not sure what to do.
Thanks in advance!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

One egg is fine. I'd leave everything alone. It sounds like the first broody is taking better care of eggs.
Once a hen is broody on eggs, I leave her alone. I don't candle eggs or anything. Just make sure food and water is available for her daily stroll.
Eventually they may both mother all the chicks.

 

[mamaj323]

Thanks. I will leave them alone. I only candled because the one that broke made a huge mess and I cleaned the eggs gently. That was day 2_3. If none of them made it through the cleaning processes I wanted to get her more while she would still set. And then I'm totally guilty of curiosity with the other. It was just too tempting while I was already in there with a light. Thank you for the advice!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I understand. It's a tough decision on cleaning when there's a mess because I worry about the yolk and albumen clogging the pores and suffocating the embryo. IMO, cleaning is the best policy.