Who has two broodys hatching eggs together?

[schmije]

I have a broody that's been sitting on 12 eggs for about a week and a half. Another hen went broody yesterday, and I'm thinking about splitting the eggs that are already 'cooking' and giving each hen 6. The first hen is segregated from the rest of the flock, so I'd like to keep both of them together. Will they fight over the eggs if I give them two separate nests? The eggs were all started on the same day, so they should hatch together. Once the babies arrive, will the hens fight over them or share them? It's easier for me to have both hens and all the chicks in the same pen, but I don't want to cause a problem for the babies.

This is my first time raising chicks with a broody, so any advice is appreciated.

 

[sumi]

In your situation I would give the second broody her own eggs to hatch. Hens know somehow how long they will need to sit and ideally I wouldn't let a hen have chicks before she's been sitting 2 weeks or more. But that's just my opinion.

If the 2 hens are sitting in separate nests and each on her own eggs, they should be o.k. They go into a bit of a trance, playing with and rolling their eggs around and will only fight if someone bothers them. Once the chicks hatch each hen will know which are hers and they will likely co-exitst peacefully and if the chicks accidentally go to the wrong mom it will get a peck to point out it's error. I've kept broodies with different aged chicks in a "chick pen" together with very little problems. The newcomer sometimes got pecked and chased a little when I added her to the pen, but the hens generally focussed on their chicks and didn't bother each other too much. It is better to feed them separately though.

 

[chickydee64]

In your situation I would give the second broody her own eggs to hatch. Hens know somehow how long they will need to sit and ideally I wouldn't let a hen have chicks before she's been sitting 2 weeks or more. But that's just my opinion.

If the 2 hens are sitting in separate nests and each on her own eggs, they should be o.k. They go into a bit of a trance, playing with and rolling their eggs around and will only fight if someone bothers them. Once the chicks hatch each hen will know which are hers and they will likely co-exitst peacefully and if the chicks accidentally go to the wrong mom it will get a peck to point out it's error. I've kept broodies with different aged chicks in a "chick pen" together with very little problems. The newcomer sometimes got pecked and chased a little when I added her to the pen, but the hens generally focussed on their chicks and didn't bother each other too much. It is better to feed them separately though.

Hi,
I've had hens share nests and hatched chicks several times with no problems.........It is kind of fun and the chicks quickly know who they are going to sleep with...............I'd leave them alone and enjoy.=)