The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: NicAlford1234 on June 02, 2012, 12:16:31 pm
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I have two broody hens, and they are sharing a nest of eggs! Will this be ok for them to hatch the eggs together, or should they be separated?
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seperare them if you can:
they will steal eggs from each other, and you run the risk of them smashing them, also eggs may be missed out and not heated therefore will not incubate, and also should any chicks hatch they will be subjected to the same treatment and could end up being crushed etc. or the hens would fight over the chicks, one winning causing the other distress.
cameron
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we had this once when we first started and left them to it, we also had other hens hanging around.
the result was a disaster as the all hens were fighting over the chicks, and they all wanted to sit on them which left many squashed chicks. when the first eggs hatched both hens stopped sitting so the other eggs/embryos got cold. basically the chicks were loved to death.
id def separate the hens and put them in a broody coop.
:eyelashes:
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i had this happen although we split them up, but when one lot of chicks hatched a day early the other mum, kind of stole the chicks, in the end they where both good mothers to six chooks unfortunatly two where killed by an unknown animal n the other 4 ended up being boys :(, but the mums where fine together