Suggestions needed for broody hens and chicks

Our take

Oh, cluck-tastic conundrum! It sounds like you’ve found yourself in the midst of a chicken drama worthy of a soap opera! With three broody hens going all-in on nesting at once, it’s no wonder things got a bit scrambled. The first hen’s eggs hatching alongside the second hen’s errant eggs adds a delightful twist, but it certainly raises questions about what to do next. Should you let the second hen care for her two chicks while abandoning her unhatched eggs? Is it wise to shuffle those eggs around to the third hen? And what about the possibility of reuniting the hatchlings with their original mom? Fear not!

We made a mistake... We have 3 broody hens, and they started in succession, second hen starting a few days after first, and third about a week later. Somehow 2 of the first hens eggs got mixed into the second hen's nest. So now the first hens eggs are hatching, including the errant eggs in Second's nest. Is Second going to give up on her eggs to care for her 2 hatched chicks? Should I add Seconds unhatched eggs (if she abandons them) to Thirds nest, and when they hatch, try to decide what to do with Third's eggs if she abandons? Is it advisable to steal the chicks from Second and give them back to First in hopes that Second will stay for the duration of her own eggs? We do not have an incubator. Ahhh I hope that wasn't as confusing as it sounds.

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#chicken eggs#chickens#fear of chickens#broody hens#chicks#hens eggs#nest#unhatched eggs#hatched chicks#incubator#abandon#succession#mixed eggs#Second#First#Third#steal chicks#care for chicks#decision on eggs#abandoning eggs