Other hen telling broody to go back and sit on her eggs?

[brummie]

I have 2 goldtops (Silkie x Light Sussex), a very broody breed. They are best friends in the flock.

One of them is currently broody sitting on some eggs. When she came out today for her 20 minute break from sitting, the other non-broody goldtop kept puffing up her feathers and holding her wings out (like broody chickens would normally do) as well as making those broody type sounds whenever she was close to the actual broody goldtop. As well as doing this, she was giving somewhat gentle pecks to the broody's head as the broody was trying to enjoy her dust bath. It was almost as if she was trying to say to the broody goldtop "what the heck are you doing out here enjoying yourself eating, drinking and dust-bathing, get back to hatching those eggs before they get cold and die" .

So what is all that about? Anyone else experienced something similar? Am I right in guessing what was she trying to tell the broody? Or was she teasing her saying something like "hahaha you clown, you've been sitting all this time, where are your chicks, loser"?

Clearly her momentary broody behaviour infront of the actual broody hen must have meant something?

 

[Judy]

Chickens are such.... odd ducks! You could be right, that she is disturbed that her flockmate isn't on the nest all the time. Yes, people have had hens share nests and chicks. Actually, although I'm not really an experienced chicken keeper, I've had it happen to me. I had 3 Kraeinkoppes, also a broody breed, and they raised chicks togeher, taking turns on the nest and then following the chicks around and protecting them. I didn't see any of the "fussing" you describe, though.

Here's a post written by someone with lots more experience than I:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/853934/three-broody-hens/0_20#post_12789421