Three hens trade off on sitting on same clutch of eggs. What's happening?

[HaltaLotta]

Had a one-year-old hen go broody on me this Spring, gathered a total of 26 eggs under herself. Were waiting to see if any would hatch out when we noticed that she was out foraging - and an older hen was sitting on the clutch instead. A few hours later, the older hen had been chased away by another, dominant older hen. In short, they are playing "musical eggs". Anyone seen anything like this before?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Are you sure those hens aren't adding eggs to the massive pile?

 

[ButteCA]

Aren’t there breeds of chickens that don’t really care who layed the eggs they will sit on them anyways? I remember the lady I bought my Silkie’s from said they would foster other hens eggs.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Yes, some chickens will sit on other eggs, but they don't trade out. They go broody and you can put other eggs under them.