Piggy back nesting

[B_Chickle01]

So I have two questions.. first one is.. Is this normal for two Hens to be on top of one another in one nesting box? The one Silver Laced Sebright Peppermint has been broody since the 24th..this could be just a coincidence but..ever since I had our 4week old Chicks out where they could see one another but not touch.. Second question is could that of triggered her broodiness? But this afternoon my other Sebright Patty(yes my kids named them after peppermint patties) joined her and has not left. I don’t even think she’s even laying on any eggs either she’s laying basically on the other hen?! My other lady Bootsy(my porcelain d’uccle) did this one day for about a hour and was over it quick lol

 

[cherrynberry]

So I have two questions.. first one is.. Is this normal for two Hens to be on top of one another in one nesting box? The one Silver Laced Sebright Peppermint has been broody since the 24th..this could be just a coincidence but..ever since I had our 4week old Chicks out where they could see one another but not touch.. Second question is could that of triggered her broodiness? But this afternoon my other Sebright Patty(yes my kids named them after peppermint patties) joined her and has not left. I don’t even think she’s even laying on any eggs either she’s laying basically on the other hen?! My other lady Bootsy(my porcelain d’uccle) did this one day for about a hour and was over it quick lol

Introducing chicks seem to make hens want to go broody. Once we reached the “see no touch” stage, with some welsummer chicks, our golden laced Wyandotte went broody...

 

[B_Chickle01]

Introducing chicks seem to make hens want to go broody. Once we reached the “see no touch” stage, with some welsummer chicks, our golden laced Wyandotte went broody...

I swore it triggered it for her! But it was just speculation. But it can’t be a coincidence that this has happened to you and I’m sure others as well. Do you know how I can encourage the other 3 hens to use other nesting boxes so they aren’t on top of her? Lol i feel bad! We have 4 nesting boxes..but they decided this nesting box is the new fav. They’ve done this 3x now.

 

[cherrynberry]

I swore it triggered it for her! But it was just speculation. But it can’t be a coincidence that this has happened to you and I’m sure others as well. Do you know how I can encourage the other 3 hens to use other nesting boxes so they aren’t on top of her? Lol i feel bad! We have 4 nesting boxes..but they decided this nesting box is the new fav. They’ve done this 3x now.

Try putting fake eggs in the other boxes, or possible move the broody hen. Broody hens tend to like to steal the favorite box...

 

[Weeg]

After my Mallard duck started to brood, I had my Swedish blue Buff mix go broody. Then after the babies hatched I had 3 other ducks go broody, and the most dedicated broody was my White Crested lol! Its been 4 weeks and I'm still trying to break her haha! It definitely influences them.
As for the piggy backing, I bet the other hen is trying to get to the eggs that the one is incubating. Her brooding probably influenced the other hen to go broody, and she's now fighting for her nest. See my Mallard ducks last year below-

I didn't know to separate them, and it ended in what I call, "The great duck fiasco" lol! They fought over the nest and sat for 3 months. A couple other ducks joined in as well, and picking up crushed eggs with full ducklings inside turned me to BYC to figure out what was going on.
If it were me, I would separate your broody's. If you're okay with both of them brooding, then place the other broody in her own space with her own eggs away from the other hen. Hopefully she'll settle in and your original broody can hatch in peace.

 

[B_Chickle01]

Try putting fake eggs in the other boxes, or possible move the broody hen. Broody hens tend to like to steal the favorite box...

I’ll try that! I have a question for you.. say you didn’t want to deal with several Broody shit head little henscould you do an old switch-a-roo with fake eggs in place of real when they first go out early in am to break them of being Broody? The one who’s been Broody I’m leaving her be because we didn’t realize until after the fact what was happening and chicks started to develop so I don’t feel right doing it. But for the other one who decided to pester her.Our older hen we took in for my fiancé’s coworker is the only hen who hasn’t showed interest in sitting on eggs..could this be because she’s older? She hasn’t laid an egg in quite a bit too i know for a fact because she’s the only one who lays brown eggs at the moment! It seems like since Peppermint became broody our oldest has kind of stopped laying.

 

[cherrynberry]

I’ll try that! I have a question for you.. say you didn’t want to deal with several Broody shit head little henscould you do an old switch-a-roo with fake eggs in place of real when they first go out early in am to break them of being Broody? The one who’s been Broody I’m leaving her be because we didn’t realize until after the fact what was happening and chicks started to develop so I don’t feel right doing it. But for the other one who decided to pester her.Our older hen we took in for my fiancé’s coworker is the only hen who hasn’t showed interest in sitting on eggs..could this be because she’s older? She hasn’t laid an egg in quite a bit too i know for a fact because she’s the only one who lays brown eggs at the moment! It seems like since Peppermint became broody our oldest has kind of stopped laying.

Ummm...I don’t actually know much about broody hens at all, but if you are asking if giving your broody hen fake eggs will break her or not, the answer is no, they usually keep sitting, or find a new nest to sit on until something hatches, or you break her from her broodiness.

 

[B_Chickle01]

After my Mallard duck started to brood, I had my Swedish blue Buff mix go broody. Then after the babies hatched I had 3 other ducks go broody, and the most dedicated broody was my White Crested lol! Its been 4 weeks and I'm still trying to break her haha! It definitely influences them.
As for the piggy backing, I bet the other hen is trying to get to the eggs that the one is incubating. Her brooding probably influenced the other hen to go broody, and she's now fighting for her nest. See my Mallard ducks last year below-
View attachment 2710471
I didn't know to separate them, and it ended in what I call, "The great duck fiasco" lol! They fought over the nest and sat for 3 months. A couple other ducks joined in as well, and picking up crushed eggs with full ducklings inside turned me to BYC to figure out what was going on.
If it were me, I would separate your broody's. If you're okay with both of them brooding, then place the other broody in her own space with her own eggs away from the other hen. Hopefully she'll settle in and your original broody can hatch in peace.

I feel ur right on the money with thinking the other hen is trying to get at her eggs that my one high jacked! Now that I think about it when I candled them I remember thinking wait is she laying on Bootsys eggs and hers? Theirs are lighter then my D’Uccles and little bit more petite! I have the funniest video of my D’Uccle ambushing the nesting box a couple weeks ago before realizing she wasn’t just an impatient egg layer and in fact was fighting for the Broody thrown. I’m cracking up at ur picture! The one on top of the other is killing me. They both look stubborn Oh no I hope I don’t have to ever pick up crushed eggs with full sized chicks! Was that just from them rustling in nesting box? Or one pecked others eggs?

 

[B_Chickle01]

Ummm...I don’t actually know much about broody hens at all, but if you are asking if giving your broody hen fake eggs will break her or not, the answer is no, they usually keep sitting, or find a new nest to sit on until something hatches, or you break her from her broodiness.

I had a feeling it wouldn’t be that easy! This is my first time dealing with Broody hens! My Broodys in picture and the rest of their flock turned a year this May and they were my first time raising chickens!

 

[cherrynberry]

I had a feeling it wouldn’t be that easy! This is my first time dealing with Broody hens! My Broodys in picture and the rest of their flock turned a year this May and they were my first time raising chickens!

Do you want to break her?