Split-parenting

[Mahjongg90]

So, I've been fascinated by two of my hens recently. They seem to be splitting the responsibility of sitting on the eggs. My black silkie will sit on the eggs from when I lock them up at night until I let them out in the morning. Then my Golden Laced Cochin will sit on them for most of the day until about mid-afternoon when they both sit in the box together. Then, when I go to lock them up at night my silkie is back on the eggs until dawn. Is this normal behavior? And if so, who get's custody? (yuck yuck yuck)

 

[silkiechicken]

Interesting, perhaps only one is really broody (the one who sits at night), and the second just wants in. I suggest marking the eggs in there now, so any new eggs canbe removed, as the mother hen, the real one, will leave with the chicks a few days after the first hatches.