Splitting up hatching fertile eggs

[NewChickNJ]

I have an old English who is brooding some marans and frizzle eggs -total of 10 eggs. We are on day 17, she's doing great. Another hen I have went broody and she is sitting tight on fake eggs for a week.

Is the any benefit to splitting the clutch? Are 2 mom as better than one?

They are a free range flock of 7 total hens. I plan the chicks to free range a few days after hatching. Mellow group of hens. Candling at 10 days shows the eggs are good.

Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[ChickenAndMore]

I would give the other hen some of her eggs. I had a hamburg go broody a few days ago and its so hot out that with her and the heat the eggs where boiled. So I gave her some chicks from the incubator. She accepted them even after sitting on the eggs for just 2 days. They are doing great (sorry I kind of got off topic).

 

[scriptkiddieJR]

I would give the other hen some of her eggs. I had a hamburg go broody a few days ago and its so hot out that with her and the heat the eggs where boiled. So I gave her some chicks from the incubator. She accepted them even after sitting on the eggs for just 2 days. They are doing great (sorry I kind of got off topic).

x2 except be careful of how many eggs you take from one to give to the other i replace the ones i take, with dummy eggs so her egg count remains the same


good luck

 

[NewChickNJ]

Ugh, just went out to steal eggs... There was a dead chick in the dog pen with original broody hen. Not fluffed out but eyes and brain was eaten ( sorry to be graphic!) I am upset but more than anything am worried about the rest. I read this may be due to mice or rats which may be possible, it's an old barn that the dog crate is in.

Should I move them all now? The other hens brooding spot is in the newer barn. I ended up moving half. Read the post about replacing with fake ones too late...

Sad.

That is 3 days early!

 

[1876 Farm]

I wouldn't worry about the number of eggs fake vs. swapped real. I usually use 4 fake eggs until I get a broody hen, I then let her sit on the 4 eggs for a week, just to make sure she will stay and then swap them for 7-8 eggs. I have never had a problem with the hen not accepting all of the eggs.

Sorry to hear about your dead chick. I hate the disappointment of them being killed after waiting such a long time for the eggs to hatch (Ok, 21 days isn't that long, but it feels that way when you are waiting). Last year I had 7 chicks and around 4 weeks of age, 6 of them were killed by an owl.

I wish you luck with the remaining eggs/chicks.

 

[ChickenAndMore]

I would move them as soon as possible.

 

[1876 Farm]

Were you able to save the other eggs from the unknown predator and did the 2nd hen accept the eggs?

 

[NewChickNJ]

Hi all!
So yes, I moved ALL the eggs that night. I have 2 other broodies that i split the clutch under just to improve my odds as they are both young - a year old.Today is hatch day (day 20). And I have 5 healthy fluffy chicks and 4 others chirping in the eggs but haven't pipped out yet! The waiting and not breaking the eggs early is SO hard. Patience is a virtue

Thank you guys for everything.

Having my girls hatch out eggs has been such a fun except for the one beheaded chick. All smiles!