leave her alone.. they know when they need to take a break and eat
Ours usually at least decide to peacefully coexist, sometimes they actively work together, which is awesome...the hens rarely ever are aggressive toward other chicks of similar age to theirs, but don't care for older ones hanging around too close. Every broody is different, so observation needed to see how they work things out, some short spats do happen, but ours don't seem to last long and rarely happen past the first couple of days. As far as location, when I have multiples due to hatch at the same time I house them in a common area where they can see each other but have plenty of room to avoid each other (4x8 would be a minimum for 2 hens). You will find the chicks don't care which hen feeds or warms them up and the chicks don't fight amongst themselves, it is the personality of the broodies which is the wild card....in our coop brooding is a community endeavor so we are lucky enough to have cooperation between most broodies and even most other flock members...chicks get cared for by multiple aunts and uncles.What is it like when you have multiple broodies with chicks of the same age? Do they tend to work together or battle at every chance? Trouble went broody & then Cookie joined the club 3 days later. Both are experienced, but I had to move Cookie into the garage b/c I didn't want broodies taking up 1/2 the nests. All of the eggs were started at the same time, so we'll have about 10-12 chicks hatching on Monday. ( Now I've got 4 under Trouble, 1 under Cookie, & 7 in the incubator. They are separated by biological mother, but once they hatch and are sorted with leg bands, the broodies will get the chicks. ) So my question is what's the best way to care for everyone? Should I move both broodies to the same cage now before eggs hatch? Will they share duties? Should I keep the broodies apart until the chicks bond with their foster mama? Although Cookie is Trouble's adopted mom, they are not "friends" or even the same breed. Most chicks will be sold quickly, but I've found it easier to keep at least one with the broody to prevent depression. CookieTrouble
In my flock it really depends who it is. Some will co parent, some fight to have all the bubs and others sort of ignore each other.What is it like when you have multiple broodies with chicks of the same age? Do they tend to work together or battle at every chance? Trouble went broody & then Cookie joined the club 3 days later. Both are experienced, but I had to move Cookie into the garage b/c I didn't want broodies taking up 1/2 the nests. All of the eggs were started at the same time, so we'll have about 10-12 chicks hatching on Monday. ( Now I've got 4 under Trouble, 1 under Cookie, & 7 in the incubator. They are separated by biological mother, but once they hatch and are sorted with leg bands, the broodies will get the chicks. ) So my question is what's the best way to care for everyone? Should I move both broodies to the same cage now before eggs hatch? Will they share duties? Should I keep the broodies apart until the chicks bond with their foster mama? Although Cookie is Trouble's adopted mom, they are not "friends" or even the same breed. Most chicks will be sold quickly, but I've found it easier to keep at least one with the broody to prevent depression. Cookie
