Two broody hens

[Nectarine]

So last night I commented on how my chicken screamed at me and turns out y’all were right she is broody but there’s a problem- there are no eggs for her to hatch. This girl is a lot more aggressive than my little silkie who just gets a little upset when I go to touch her and I was wondering what I should do? My silkie has plenty of eggs under her so I could move some to this other hen or I could remove the fake egg I put in that nest and try to stop her from going broody. In the end I would feel bad regardless of what I try to do, whether it be stealing eggs my silkie has been carefully looking after or revoking my hens right to hatch eggs.
Also, just another question, but does a chickens age effect how many eggs she might be able to hatch? A bit dumb yes but all of my chickens are relatively young (the silkie being one of the youngest) and if removing eggs would make it easier for them both I’d prefer that.

 

[nuthatched]

Age doesn't affect their ability unless they're too small to cover the eggs, you can split the eggs between the hens or break the hen by putting her in a dog kennel to cool off.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Chickens can't count, so your silkie won't notice some eggs missing.

 

[Nectarine]

Age doesn't affect their ability unless they're too small to cover the eggs, you can split the eggs between the hens or break the hen by putting her in a dog kennel to cool off.

Hmmm maybe I will try to let her cool off…I feel a bit bad tho

 

[nuthatched]

Hmmm maybe I will try to let her cool off…I feel a bit bad tho

You shouldn't, it's just hormones. She'll get broody again. :]

 

[Nectarine]

You shouldn't, it's just hormones. She'll get broody again. :]

Thank you but it’s a little strange to say now but after sitting there for a couple hours she hopped off and wandered off somewhere without even laying an egg. I’m worried that she is in fact broody and has gone off to where ever it is my chickens lay their eggs after my silkie got broody :/

 

[nuthatched]

Thank you but it’s a little strange to say now but after sitting there for a couple hours she hopped off and wandered off somewhere without even laying an egg. I’m worried that she is in fact broody and has gone off to where ever it is my chickens lay their eggs after my silkie got broody :/

Do you only have one nest box? Chickens do choose odd places to lay, like under my neighbor's wheelbarrows.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you weren't planning to have her hatch (which has the potential of being a messy situation with 2 broodies) best to break her now with the dog crate and if in the future she goes broody again and you're ready to have her brood, then let her try brooding at that point.

 

[Nectarine]

Do you only have one nest box? Chickens do choose odd places to lay, like under my neighbor's wheelbarrows.

We have a far too many nest boxes especially since the chickens prefer to lay in the corner of the coop with only the hen I’ve been talking about laying in the nest boxes, though my hens do like to run off and lay places where we cant find them but that’s also a problem cause we’re on five acres with sheep surrounding us along with a rundown tennis court so we have no idea where they could be laying.

 

[aart]

We have a far too many nest boxes especially since the chickens prefer to lay in the corner of the coop with only the hen I’ve been talking about laying in the nest boxes, though my hens do like to run off and lay places where we cant find them but that’s also a problem cause we’re on five acres with sheep surrounding us along with a rundown tennis court so we have no idea where they could be laying.

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.