NEVER HAD A BROODY HEN HATCH EGGS BEFORE!!!

[msrma7670]

Hi thanks fur looking and answering my questions.

This is my situation I have one black jap hen that went broody since then she is taking turns with four other hens sitting the eggs all bantam hens sitting on black giant eggs. The black giants are renting the pen with them for now. Anyway she gets up to eat and another hen takes over sitting the eggs. Over the last few days four have sat the eggs. When not sitting on eggs they huddle close to the hen sitting the eggs for moral support. Only one will have the eggs I have checked. Four hens one nest box sitting eggs no fighting. Today I seperated the lot in fears that community raising of chicks would not turn out well for the chicks. Maybe someone can explain this to me pro vs con. Now I have two hens sitting on seperate eggs in a rabbit cage above and below each other. The other two are sitting one clutch of eggs in the same rabbit cage. These two wont sit the eggs unless together. When I move one out the other comes of the egss and wont sit but calls for the the hen to come back. The same thing happens when I take the other one out of the cage. Has anyone ever had this happen to them? Here is where it get a bit weird. If I move any one away from the rabbit cage the rest come off the eggs and wont sit on them but go to the front of the rabbit cage and call for her even though they are in separte cages. Any sugestions?

questions
1.) once each hatches her eggs can I put them back together? yes or no

2.) since I have not had a broody hen before what do the chicks eat after they finshed the shell?. crumbles in water mush/ or straight crumbles

3.) Has anyone ever had this happen to them or are my chickens becoming socialists?

 

[Judy]

Usually, people separate each broody with her own group of eggs. But then, usually, hens sharing a clutch of eggs causes more problems than you've had. Honestly, I'd just play it by ear. I suspect they will share the chicks as well as they have the eggs.

As a rule, the hen keeps the newly hatched chicks under her for at least 24 hours, then abandons any unhatched eggs and takes her chicks to eat and drink. Most people just give them chick feed, either mash or crumbles, dry. They really don't need anything special. Sometimes people give things like a bit of cooked egg, a few vitamins or probiotics or ACV in the water, etc. Probably this does no harm, may give them a little boost, but I don't think it is necessary. The mama can just eat the chick feed while raising chicks -- but don't let the chicks eat layer feed as the calcium level is harmful to their organs. The mama won't lay for a while so won't miss the layer feed. Or, you can give everyone flock raiser and provide oyster shell on the side, particularly after the chicks are a few weeks old and the mama has stopped mothering them. This way they can all stay together -- that is, if you let the mamas raise the chicks in the flock.