Two broodies on one nest?

[soloequestrian]

Two of my hens have gone broody and are sharing a nest box. I'm planning to get some fertile eggs but should I put them under both or take one off and break her broodiness? I feel a bit mean - one of them has been broody already this year but she is quite little so if I choose one to brood the fertile eggs it will be the bigger hen....

 

[sourland]

For me multiple hens cobrooding has resulted in low % hatches. Why not try to move the smaller hen to another nest site and then give fertile eggs to both of them? If that is not feasible, I would go with the larger hen.

 

[GuineaQueen]

Split them up and put some of the clay fake eggs under them until you have fertile ones to hatch. If you leave them together to brood eggs will get broke and my experience has been if they get broke they will leave the nest due to ants getting into the nest after the yolks.

Also do get fertile eggs under them fairly quickly. Most of my broodys over the years will leave a nest if its taking too long for the eggs to hatch.

Best of Luck!!

 

[TOR]

if you only have 1 nest break one of them of broody.If you have enough nesting boxes let them sit if you desire. They may end up switching nesting boxes. If you have other egg layers with the nesting chicken mark your eggs you want in the nest ; or seperate the broody nesting hen from the others.
The other hens will try or possibly try to lay eggs with the nesting hen.