Two hens setting one nest?

[UnlabeledMama]

I had a broody hen and I got her 8 fertile eggs to try to hatch. Now every time I go out there she and another hen are both trying to sit in the same place. Are they trying to share the eggs? What will I do when the babies hatch? I was going to move the mama and babies to the chicken tractor to forage (that worked well with the last batch), but I don't think I can fit 2 hens and chicks in there. Any suggestions?

 

[sourland]

If it were me, I would remove the second hen. Frequently hens sharing a communal nest end up fighting over the eggs resulting in broken eggs and a low % hatch rate.

 

[UnlabeledMama]

My only problem is I don't know which one was the 1st one! They are both barred rocks!

 

[sourland]

Oops!

 

[Moonkit]

My hens often pair up to hatch eggs.. in fact, I have a pair on a nest right now and I've confirmed that they've hatched 3/5 shipped eggs so far (more might hatch today). The pic below was taken this morning, and there are atleast 3 chicks under them, but in hiding.. it was a bit chilly out.



I just kept an eye on them and made sure the eggs all stayed covered, and in fact, theirs started popping first. I think their eggs stayed warmer because when one got up, the other would cover the partner's eggs. There was some bickering with them reaching under each other to steal eggs, but normally they'd settle with an egg or two under each.

 

[UnlabeledMama]

My hens often pair up to hatch eggs.. in fact, I have a pair on a nest right now and I've confirmed that they've hatched 3/5 shipped eggs so far (more might hatch today). The pic below was taken this morning, and there are atleast 3 chicks under them, but in hiding.. it was a bit chilly out.



I just kept an eye on them and made sure the eggs all stayed covered, and in fact, theirs started popping first. I think their eggs stayed warmer because when one got up, the other would cover the partner's eggs. There was some bickering with them reaching under each other to steal eggs, but normally they'd settle with an egg or two under each.

Thanks! I'm hoping they will do well. I just have to figure out what to do when the chicks hatch.

 

[Zrcalo]

I would say leave them alone.... I currently have 4 chickens raising two batches of chicks. two hens per batch. They all ended up fine and I've had a higher hatch rate because of it!

 

[SilverPhoenixNS]

my turkeys will do that, sometimes ill go out and all 5 hens are setting.