I put some hatching eggs under a broody hen, just 5. 3 hatched yesterday morning, the very night before, I had a predator attack and lost my two favorites, of course. It just so happens that I had a second hen go broody a week or so ago, and she's not sitting on anything that will ever hatch. Both broodys are ok, the mother hen is being a good mom, down in the floor of the coop scratching around with her babies. The other broody is still sitting. Is there any reason I shouldn't go to the feed store, get a couple more replacements and stick under broody # 2, accomplishing breaking her brood and adding to the flock all at once?
The two mothers would not be separated, and everyone is free to roam the run. Would they fight over chicks or would they know who's who? Don't want to introduce stress, but I would like to add to the flock now when I've got 2 hens able to brood them up without much help from me. Would it be better two add the new chicks to the existing clutch? Advice appreciated. Thanks.
The two mothers would not be separated, and everyone is free to roam the run. Would they fight over chicks or would they know who's who? Don't want to introduce stress, but I would like to add to the flock now when I've got 2 hens able to brood them up without much help from me. Would it be better two add the new chicks to the existing clutch? Advice appreciated. Thanks.
