I have a broody that's been sitting on eggs for about 10 days now. She shares the flock lead position with another hen, so she's very high ranking and generally cares about the order a lot - breaks up fights between the others, puts the pullets in their place but without being too mean about it, etc. - a nice peacekeeper who's respected by the others. So I thought she'd be a good choice for a broody. However... I'm noticing some worrying signs. She doesn't seem to remember, or care, which nest is hers. After she gets up to eat, she'll return to whichever nest doesn't have a hen sitting in it. If all are empty, she'll just sit in the first one she sees. And if all are occupied, she'll pace back and forth for a bit and then go back outside! If she's in her own nest and another hen tries to squeeze in next to her, she'll puff up and make half-hearted displeased sounds, but she'll still let the other hen come in and crowd next to her. I regularly find 2-3 hens crammed on top of each other in that nest, and I worry that they'll break the eggs. I have considered fencing the area around her nest off with food and water, so she can't leave and they can't bother her, but that's only part of my concern. My other concern is - if she's not guarding her nest and eggs, will she guard the chicks once they hatch? Last year I used a different broody - very low ranking, but she grew some serious balls as a result of being broody, always went back to her own nest, guarded it, and kicked butt if anybody came near the chicks after they hatched. Even the top hens were afraid of her. She even kept her upgraded position in the pecking order after the chicks grew up. So I guess hierarchy doesn't seem to matter when they go broody? What are your experiences with hens that don't remember/guard their nests? This girl seems very committed otherwise, she's sitting on some expensive eggs and I want this to work. She's 2 years old and has been broody before, though I haven't let her sit and hatch yet until now. Your input would be appreciated!
Here are some of them, all crammed together even though there's a third nest sitting empty. The broody is the Silver Laced Orp on the far right.
Here are some of them, all crammed together even though there's a third nest sitting empty. The broody is the Silver Laced Orp on the far right.
