Two Broodies, One nest, Twenty-sumthin eggs

[m.r.heavenlyhens]

Also since they are free range, one hen still has five but one has 3 (lost two somewhere) The hen that had her clutch away from the flock still has her original six. I hope this helps some.

 

[wholewheatchicken]

Also since they are free range, one hen still has five but one has 3 (lost two somewhere) The hen that had her clutch away from the flock still has her original six. I hope this helps some.

That is too cute! We just didn't have enough room yet to adequately separate ours. Poor little mommas

 

[The Chickeneer]

Also since they are free range, one hen still has five but one has 3 (lost two somewhere) The hen that had her clutch away from the flock still has her original six. I hope this helps some.

It did help, thanks. Very good pictures by the way. So the chicks know which one is their mother? Or do the mothers somehow claim them, and the chicks just go along with it.

I'm thinking about putting like a piece of cardboard between them during hatch time, so they are separated with their own chicks. I'm hoping this will get them to know which ones are their chicks, so when they are out eating together, the mothers don't fight over them.

 

[The Chickeneer]

Checked on them today, they seem to tolerate each other ok, although they are not the best of friends.....They also kinda scooted away from each other just a bit, and haven't switched spots lately. I can never find the time to candle, I'l try tomoro.

 

[m.r.heavenlyhens]

The funny thing about the two hens hanging together is that the chicks are all mixed up but then when one of the mom's takes off after a bug or something, a couple go right after her and then the rest look around like, "where's mom?" and then they follow. That is when the two clutches will seperate. The chicks seem to keep to their own Mom. I really like the idea of putting up a piece of cardboard between them. I originally seperated mine to boxes right next to each other. I found them switched a couple of times, but in the last week before hatch, they kept to one box a pieace. I have two new hens that just started sitting. One is a white rock and the other is a buff rock banty.
When I check on them they sit real still and give me the stink eye

like "leave me alone, i'm broodin here!"

 

[The Chickeneer]

The funny thing about the two hens hanging together is that the chicks are all mixed up but then when one of the mom's takes off after a bug or something, a couple go right after her and then the rest look around like, "where's mom?" and then they follow. That is when the two clutches will seperate. The chicks seem to keep to their own Mom. I really like the idea of putting up a piece of cardboard between them. I originally seperated mine to boxes right next to each other. I found them switched a couple of times, but in the last week before hatch, they kept to one box a pieace. I have two new hens that just started sitting. One is a white rock and the other is a buff rock banty.
When I check on them they sit real still and give me the stink eye

like "leave me alone, i'm broodin here!"

Haha same here!

 

[The Chickeneer]

Ok guys, I candled some of the eggs today, and they are doing really good. They are pretty much all dark inside since it's almost hatch day. Wednesday is hatch day. Wish me luck!

 

[Dixieschicks02]

I have two broody bantam's both laid eggs in boxes side by side. I took diamonds eggs away and left abagails with her. Now they are taking shifts nesting on the eggs . I think diamond may have laid a few more .. Mixed with Abby's now. God knows how this will turn out. April fools day , ironically is the big day

 

[Dixieschicks02]

The problem we had with multiple broodies is that they would end up smashing the eggs by kicking them out of the nest while they were all trying to sit in the same nest! In the end we had to more two of the broodies to completely different pens for them to have some peace.
The seem to go stupider when they go broody! Never letting them hatch out eggs when more than two are broody again, its was a nightmare!

 

[Dixieschicks02]

Wondered what I was about to get myself into . I have a 4 month old bantam cochin that just let me know he was a rooster , because that quickly I got 3 bantams broody !! 2 are sharing one nest and the third no longer comes off her nest, although their not all her eggs. Lol. For now enjoying the lesson .. Stepping into panic mode slowly