Need Some Advice on Broody Hens with Different Timed Eggs

[Cheltaran]

So I want to preface by saying that I realise we've done this wrong and should have put all the eggs under the hens at the same time. Lesson learnt for next time.

We have 2 broody hens sitting on about 18 eggs. They kinda share the eggs, and if one sees an egg poking out from under the other hen she'll push it under herself. We tried separating them into separate nest boxes, but then we came back 2 hours later and they had both moved into the same box and abandoned the second set of eggs, so we just put all the eggs and both hens into the same box and they seem happy.

Yesterday we had the first set of 4 chicks hatch. Some of the other eggs should be hatching in the next day or two.
We've been offering the chicks water, but I read that they won't need food yet for another day, so haven't been trying to get them to eat. They seem more concerned with getting back under mum that they are drinking.

But then we have some other eggs which aren't due for another 6 days, and then some more which aren't due for another 10 days.

We're worried that either:
a) The hens will keep focusing on the eggs and not the chicks, and the chicks will die
b) The hens will focus on the chicks and abandon the rest of the eggs

What do we do if one of these happens? Ideally one will raise the early chicks and the other the eggs, but we're not sure what will happen.
Do we take the chicks out and raise them under a lamp until the other eggs have hatched, and then reintroduce them?
Should we try splitting the 2 mums up again, and give one the early eggs/chicks and one the later eggs? How do we stop her from leaving the nest and going back in with the other hen?
We also have a 3rd broody in another pen that I could put the later eggs under. Should I try that and then move the chicks in with the older ones when they hatch? (the main pen isn't suitable for the chicks once they hatch, so we set up a separate daycare pen in the garage for the hatching nests which is where the 2 mums are)

p.s. If you remember my post from a while back with the stray rooster with the weird bone/feather thing sticking out of his neck? He's the daddy

Edit: Here are the mums:

 

[sourland]

Your idea of removing one of the hens with the first lot of chicks to hatch might work, but she and the chicks would have to be set up out of sight or hearing of the other hen.

 

[sourland]

Take the chicks away from the hens and raise them in a brooder. If you do not do so it is likely that the hens will abandon the eggs within 36 hours of the chicks hatching. Do you have an incubator ?

 

[Cheltaran]

Take the chicks away from the hens and raise them in a brooder. If you do not do so it is likely that the hens will abandon the eggs within 36 hours of the chicks hatching. Do you have an incubator ?

We don't have an incubator, but we have heat lamps. We raised chicks under the lamp last year with no issues, so taking the chicks out and raising them that way isn't an issue. But we couldn't incubate the eggs that way.

If we do that, can we reintroduce them to the mums once the other eggs hatch? We wouldn't be able to raise the full 18 chicks inside, not enough space.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

If u leave the first set of hatchees with one hen, then as sourland said, move the 2nd hen Completely away and out of sight and hearing of the 1st hen; let 2nd hen hatch the 2nd group of eggs, then give the remaining viable unhatched eggs to the 3rd broody, that Should work. I would move the 2nd hen in the dead of night to her new place, & watch her closely at daybreak to make sure she remains setting on the eggs. Situation is a bit complicated no matter what. But hopefully will it work. WAIT, i think this will work better. Move the FIRST hen with first hatchees to a place completely out of sight & hearing of a remaining hen. Let the second hen remain in place setting on the eggs. When 2nd hatch is complete, THEN give viable remaining eggs to your 3rd broody. I feel pretty good that should work! I didnt erase first part of this post cause i wanted u to know my thought process & how i arrived at second idea. (Because it is much more likely the 2nd hen will stay with the eggs if u Leave her where she has been setting. Meanwhile the first hen will have her chicks & wont try to return to eggs she can no longer see.)

 

[Cheltaran]

Yeah it’s normal.

We wanna see chix rather than p**p.

Hahaha, sorry for the poop pic.
Here is a photo we took of the first 2 chicks yesterday. I'll have to get some of the other 2, but don't want to disturb the mums again just yet. The other 2 both have the chipmunk pattern on them, but one is more red and the other more yellow.

We're not sure what colours we'll get. The mums are all purebred Wyandottes in different colours. We have Partridge, Blue Partridge, Silver Lace, and Silver Pencil. The dad we have no idea, he just showed up here one day and we kept him. He's probably a crossbreed, but people have said he has similar colouring to a Barnevelder (pic below). He's probably not Barnevelder, but looks similar in any case. I'd say that's where the black chick got its colouring from.

 

[Cheltaran]

They’re lovely chicks! The black chick might be a female in case there’s any sex-linkage of color traits. The rooster looks great!

The chipmunk pattern is similar to the pure Partridge Wyandottes we hatched last year too, so I'd say those ones will have at least partial lacing or partridge colours. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Cheltaran]

One more pic, babies playing hide and seek. This is the two more yellow looking chicks.

 

[Ruthster55]

One more pic, babies playing hide and seek. This is the two more yellow looking chicks.

View attachment 2391286

Love when a chickie peeks out from Mama’s feathers!!

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

U r welcome. I am glad to know its working out for u, the broodies, & the chicks.