stupid me put two hens together....is it too late?

[ambrosegirl84]

Hi, in my newbie ignorance I let two hens set on eggs since I have two broodies. Figured one of them would work out, right? Each has two eggs. Tomorrow is day 20. My husband built a little separate area for them, and we figured that they could be housed together. Do I need to go out in the morning and sneak all the eggs under one hen? I've got no way to separate them!

 

[QueenMisha]

Yes, broodies can be housed together as long as there is enough room. They are more interested in caring for the babies than fighting, as long as they don't feel threatened by the other bird. Sometimes hens will even brood and raise the same clutch of chicks - I currently have two hens doing this. The bantam kept sneaking UNDERNEATH the standard hen, and so I effectively had a pile of hen-->hen-->eggs. She does the same now at night, when they are keeping the chicks warm.

 

[ambrosegirl84]

They have about a 2 foot by 4 foot space to share inside, plus outside once the chicks are big enough. Problem is that I won't be around hatching day as multiple circumstances sprung up that will leave me mostly gone that day.

 

[Steve Jahnsen]

I just moved two hens together half of their eggs have hatched already i hope they 'll be fine they already raised one brood together i'm going out of town so I wanted them to be safe, so I'll watch them this morning and see how they act.

 

[ambrosegirl84]

Let me know how it goes, Steve! These are both first time mommies, but I swear they've been broody all their lives.

 

[QueenMisha]

How large is the outdoor area? I've always allowed my broodies out as soon as they want to. They sit on the nest for a day or two after hatch then lead the babies right outside.

 

[Steve Jahnsen]

I have a 20x48 cage with a 20x16 box at the end I put both in it on eggs and one took the others eggs so I took eggless out now ( I call her grandma) has ten chicks so far so I took a few eggs and put under eggless in another nest I don't know if they will hatch it will be three days tomorrow but it made her happy ten out of eighteen is enough

 

[ambrosegirl84]

Well, I took the eggs and consolidated them under one hen, and we got 3 chicks out of 4 eggs! She seems to be a good mommy, so I am pleased!