What are these 2 hens doing?

[xjustrhyx]

I have one broody chicken(the brown one) that sits on her eggs. Whenever she’s off of her nest, another hen (the grey one) starts to sit on them too but this one doesn’t seem broody and is just sitting on them and turning the eggs like normal broody hen would. I don’t know whether they’re helping each other or something. Anyone know what they’re doing?

 

[-Shade-]

I have instances where when my broody hens get off, other hens jump on the nest and try to lay eggs in with the incubating ones. It has led to some casualties, as my hens aren't overly careful where they set their clumsy little feet

 

[sourland]

Is the second hen adding eggs to the clutch? Staggered hatches can be a disaster.

 

[fluffycrow]

Agreed. You should check if the other hen is laying or if she's trying to go broody two. If it's the first, then you should find a way to keep the hen away from the broody and her eggs

 

[xjustrhyx]

Agreed. You should check if the other hen is laying or if she's trying to go broody two. If it's the first, then you should find a way to keep the hen away from the broody and her

I think the other one is also going broody. I saw that she plucked her chest feathers