citychicks99
Songster
Three weeks ago one of my hens stayed in the nest box all day. By the next day I figured she was broody. She got up and I counted four eggs. I think in a few more days I counted twelve. By the next week my other hen joined her and they've both been in the nest box since.
I moved them inside a dog crate because that would have been better for them to hatch chicks but I didn't want to disturb them or move the eggs.
Today, three chicks hatched and they started eating. I'm a little concerned about the other eggs that haven't yet hatched because eating = pooping which wouldn't be good for the unhatched eggs.
I'll see what they do tomorrow. If both hens leave the nest box should I try and move the eggs then? It seems like it's getting awfully crowded in there. Ideally, one hen takes the hatched chicks out and the other hen stays for the unhatched eggs but I don't know if they'll do that. Anyone have experience with two broody hens and a staggered hatch?
Edit to add that I saw one of the broody hens out today while the other one was still on the nest box. I thought they don't leave the nest 24 hours before the hatch? Does this mean one of them may stay longer? I'm just reading other threads now to separate them. If one of the hens takes the chicks out should I close the door on the dog crate and try and separate them that way?
I moved them inside a dog crate because that would have been better for them to hatch chicks but I didn't want to disturb them or move the eggs.
Today, three chicks hatched and they started eating. I'm a little concerned about the other eggs that haven't yet hatched because eating = pooping which wouldn't be good for the unhatched eggs.
I'll see what they do tomorrow. If both hens leave the nest box should I try and move the eggs then? It seems like it's getting awfully crowded in there. Ideally, one hen takes the hatched chicks out and the other hen stays for the unhatched eggs but I don't know if they'll do that. Anyone have experience with two broody hens and a staggered hatch?
Edit to add that I saw one of the broody hens out today while the other one was still on the nest box. I thought they don't leave the nest 24 hours before the hatch? Does this mean one of them may stay longer? I'm just reading other threads now to separate them. If one of the hens takes the chicks out should I close the door on the dog crate and try and separate them that way?
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