Questions about Broody Hens

[FarmGirl13]

I have one little hen ( red pyle OEGB ) who is trying to set on a clutch of eggs. She sat for three days and had one white rock, and two leghorn eggs under her. I checked them this morning and they were all warm and good to go, then I came back a few hours later and one of my leghorn chickens had run her off the clutch and ate two of the three, leaving the white rock egg.

I coaxed my bantam back onto the one egg and placed one of my incubator eggs (an australorp ) under her, she seemed rather pleased to be setting back on her eggs. Then I went back and she had moved off the nest and was getting food and my australorp hen sat on the clutch and laid an egg. Then moved and the bantam went back to it. I checked on her right after everybody roosted and she was walking around on the ground ( everyone else was up top ) I placed her on the clutch ( felt a little cool, but not cold ) she settled down, but I'm worried that my leghorns will run her off again

I'm sincerely thinking of putting her in her own area by her self or with my other bantam hen but I'm worried that the rooster I have ( a big black australorp, sweetest boy ever! ) will make a big fuss. Any suggestions on what I should do?

 

[sourland]

It is generally best to allow hens the opportunity to brood where others will not bother them. Such interactions as you describe frequently result in failed hatches.

 

[FarmGirl13]

It is generally best to allow hens the opportunity to brood where others will not bother them. Such interactions as you describe frequently result in failed hatches.

I hope that she stays on the nest, should I give her food and water by the nest so she doesn't have to get up?

 

[sourland]

No, she has to get up or she may defecate in the nest - create a wire partition/barrier so that the others can not chase her off the nest.

 

[FarmGirl13]

No, she has to get up or she may defecate in the nest - create a wire partition/barrier so that the others can not chase her off the nest.

Would it cause her to get hurt by the other chickens when she goes back in with them after the babies hatch? She's kinda low in the pecking order because she's so small.

 

[FarmGirl13]

I have some eggs my hen in setting on, and they look like they are day 11 12 and 13/14 . . . should the younger developed eggs hatch out okay along with the others?

 

[bobbi-j]

Depends on how long it takes them to hatch. A broody will sit for awhile after hatching starts, but will eventually leave the nest when she feels that all have hatched that are going to.

 

[FarmGirl13]

Depends on how long it takes them to hatch. A broody will sit for awhile after hatching starts, but will eventually leave the nest when she feels that all have hatched that are going to.

I hope they all do well, I have nine ^^ I'm so excited

 

[FarmGirl13]

I have one egg in my clutch that looks like it might have peeped either early this morning or late last night, but it hasn't made any progress at all. And I don't hear any peeping coming from the egg? Did baby give up and die? or it just tired and waiting?