Two hens snuggling in same nest box?

[Karlyn Fry]

I have 5 hens... three different breeds... I've had the chickens for two years and a few days ago I found 2 hens in one nest box (same breed) - apparently they are there all day long... one day I removed two eggs from underneath them so I thought they were maybe being broody... Yesterday there were no eggs underneath them... I pushed them out of the nest box to try and get them to go eat but I think they ended up climbing back in. Do I need to worry? Is this broody with a dose of snuggling.... or what might this be?

Thanks!

 

[Boone Farm]

Sounds like two hens going broody at the same time and there is a little battle to see who gets to brood a single clutch of eggs.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

It is not snuggling. They are both contemplating brooding.
If you want chicks, and have fertile eggs, you can attempt to get them to incubate and hatch chicks...with a warning...most large fowl hens struggle over the chicks and eggs which often ends up in smashed eggs and squashed chicks. Usually it is best to separate them into separate nests that the other can't get to.

A few large fowl hens successfully brood together, especially if they are close flock mates.

If you don't want chicks, and don't want to use brooding hens, then you'll need to discourage the behavior. Some hens will almost brood themselves to death if they do not hatch chicks...they keep waiting and waiting.

LofMc

 

[Abriana]

Looks like two broodys. If you want chicks, now is a good time. You could put two eggs under each so you wouldn't get too many if you don't want a lot. But separate them in different pens (dog crates often work well, or wire cages). They might kill chicks fighting over them or trying to protect their own brood.

 

[FarmerFrank]

We have seven nesting boxes and I came out to this the other day, only one other box was being used.

 

[Karlyn Fry]

Thanks for the responses! I should add that there is no rooster... so no chicks... just eggs to fry, scramble, poach....

 

[chicklets81]

It sounds to me like you have 2 hens going broody. I had 1 go broody first, and then after her broody, a 2nd hen went broody, in the same box. I gave them 24 hours to "work it out" themselves, and by the end of 24 hours, the 1st hen gave up, and claimed her own box. But it definitely sounds like they are both broody, I think. But I'm a lesser-experienced chicken owner of only 2 years, so, perhaps someone that's had chickens longer will have a different opinion. But this very situation happened to me last week, and I didn't have to move them myself, they did it on their own.

I hear if you are trying to let them broody, with eggs, they should be separated so as not to have them think they are "covering" the eggs, but not be over them completely, and have them not warm enough to hatch/grow.

 

[chicklets81]

I found too, that 2 hens will try to lay their eggs at the same time, in the same box. One tries to push the other aside. They are too funny, this is one of the many reasons why I love chickens! never a dull moment.

I've had chickens that weren't broody, but hung out in the nesting boxes for the evening. I've never been able to explain why they do this, but I do remember this, and my own hope was for the chicken to be broody, but they never stayed in the box. You can have chickens broody with no rooster.

 

[snow5164]

I would take them out when you see them , I put/scoot them out the pop door so they get out of the coop. But,
I have had many lay eggs with their friends, sometimes it just happens

Also make sure nesting boxes are clean (no bugs, broken eggs or anything they are attracted to)

 

[Riley Long]

Thanks for the responses! I should add that there is no rooster... so no chicks... just eggs to fry, scramble, poach....

Thank you sir. I was just about to inform these "chicken professors" that at no time did you mention the presence of a rooster. My question is, do these guys just stray off topic giving answers to questions that haven't been asked? Or, and one of the professors said "just slip a couple eggs under them" I sincerely hope he meant two fertilized eggs, however they could very well be just like most everyone else I've met and just don't know that every egg a hen lays must be "pre certified" by a rooster before it ever sees the light of day if there's any hope of having a baby chick inside.