Two broody hens swapping nests

[Happychickens33]

I have two broody hens both on different nest boxes in The Palace coup.One hen, Sweet Cheeks has been broody before and was an excellent mother sitting, then hatching 10 eggs successfully and all grew into adulthood. Last year the other hen, Puff Ball, only hatched 3 with extra help. I noticed this morning that they had swapped nest boxes!! Should I be concerned?-I don’t want to move anybody because I did last year and she totally rejected the clutch.She threw the eggs all around the pIace and then covered them with bedding. I have an incubator ready around Day 21. (Sweet Cheeks has murder on her mind if any hen comes near her clutch) I have a small coup just right for brooding- should I put both broody hens and eggs , food and water, in there and hope for the best?

 

[aart]

How long have they been setting?
I would not try to move them.

 

[Happychickens33]

Th

How long have they been setting?
I would not try to move them.

About two weeks. I am going to try and candle the eggs to see if they are developing- I have two Roos 14 hens. Thank you for answering me!

 

[Maddcatter]

Are the nest boxes movable?
I have birds that all went broody at the same time, but they were in boxes that moved, so I ended up moving them into their own little section of my coop by moving the entire box they were in. I believe I also waiting untill week 2.
They did keep sitting on their eggs, and I had a successful hatch of 21 chicks.

 

[Happychickens33]

No, they are not removable. I did candle some and some were fertile. I put those back. The hens have been really mean, lol, so it’s hard to get more eggs to candle. I marked all the fertile ones. Wow, that’s great you hatched 21 eggs! Each hen has more than 12 eggs under her. I know Sweet Cheeks, the good mother has been sitting religiously since around May 1st. So I’m thinking around May 21st. I’m wondering if nothing hatches if I should incubate some myself and put live chicks under them ( or from Tractor Supply) so they will quit being broody.

 

[Maddcatter]

No, they are not removable. I did candle some and some were fertile. I put those back. The hens have been really mean, lol, so it’s hard to get more eggs to candle. I marked all the fertile ones. Wow, that’s great you hatched 21 eggs! Each hen has more than 12 eggs under her. I know Sweet Cheeks, the good mother has been sitting religiously since around May 1st. So I’m thinking around May 21st. I’m wondering if nothing hatches if I should incubate some myself and put live chicks under them ( or from Tractor Supply) so they will quit being broody.

Supposedly, if you put day old chicks under them, they'll adopt them. I haven't tried this method. It sounds like you might have some that hatch, so hopefully you won't have to worry about it.

 

[Mrs. K]

I hate to break a broody hen, so I slipped three chicks under one last night. So darling to see them this morning. Her sitting in a shelter with a little face just peeking out.

And if you buy pullet chicks, well you get pullet chicks for the most part.

 

[ChicFil- A]

I have two broody hens both on different nest boxes in The Palace coup.One hen, Sweet Cheeks has been broody before and was an excellent mother sitting, then hatching 10 eggs successfully and all grew into adulthood. Last year the other hen, Puff Ball, only hatched 3 with extra help. I noticed this morning that they had swapped nest boxes!! Should I be concerned?-I don’t want to move anybody because I did last year and she totally rejected the clutch.She threw the eggs all around the pIace and then covered them with bedding. I have an incubator ready around Day 21. (Sweet Cheeks has murder on her mind if any hen comes near her clutch) I have a small coup just right for brooding- should I put both broody hens and eggs , food and water, in there and hope for the best?

If neither was left unattended, and everything seems quiet move the girls back to their own beds! they are confused, separate the nests and eggs from them if necessary, It’s not good to keep them that close! “ In my opinion “ !

 

[feather16]

Hi @Happychickens33 ! How did the two hens turn out for you? I currently have two hens broody in the same coop, about a week apart. One hen has her babies, and the other one should at the end of this week.. I’m curious how it will work having two moms and separate babies in the same coop? I’m a little anxious, the first mom is a second time mom and is amazing. The second hen is a first timer, but she’s a real sweet hen.

She hasn’t left her nest, even with the mom and new babies walking around, so I feel like it should be fine with the different ages?

 

[Happychickens33]

Both hens went into lockdown and hatched two eggs each! So I have four chicks!! The hens are getting along fine! Looks like a group effort! At night both hens sleep up against other with the babies underneath in one nest!! It is so sweet!! I’ll post a pic! I haven’t let them out of the coup yet ( they have lots of room). I want to wait till they get a little bigger. They have their wings coming in!! They have two mighty protective mothers! Thanks for getting back to me!