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Wrold & Alpia are both senior hens ~ another reason they got the extra eggs. You are right about playing catch~up. I wasn't ready for the eggs but they were given to me & as I had the broodies already sitting...My preference is to let the senior hens sit and hatch and only on the eggs they laid if possible. Some hens are happy to take donations but ime the senior hens are less so and even roll the donated eggs out of their nests sometimes. I have had multiple broodies sit and hatch (you may remember Barking Bracket, Hinge and Nolia spread over two nests) That on worked out all right but in the past I've had a lot of egg breakages from guest traffic.
In some nests, tribe coop nests in general I've screened off the nest from the others overnight. Early morning donations proved the most damaging for some reason. Once the rest of the tribe have left the coop in the morning I unblock the nest so the broody can get out and about. There is a reason, a few in fact why junior hens in particular choose given the option to lay their eggs in nests away from the coop. These nests tend to be secret hidden nests and watching these juniors return to their nests it's apparent it's not just me they don't want to know where they are, they don't want the other hens knowing.
You and they are on new territory and the group has undergone some fairly major population changes recently, plus you're playing catch up witth accomodation and experience.
Once you've got to the point that you're being proactive rather than reactive to the changes I'm certain hatch rates will improve. Knowing what makes a good nest in your location can be very mportant and unfortunately the hens as well as you have to learn this.
You're doing okay Ribh. None of it is as straightforward as some would have us believe.
Predation is a real risk around here & I did want Alpia & Wrold to get @ least one chance to raise babies. They have sat determinedly every year since they arrived. After the 1st day or so no-one laid in the broody boxes.
️] who had chickens because I would be looking for a rooster. Surprisingly only one person had a flock. Drowning in chicks so wanted to ditch the rooster. On asking, he seemed like a sweetie [he is] so I agreed to take him. A dozen eggs arrived with him to stop her broodies sitting again & they went under my lot. All the eggs were bantam eggs, probably booted bantams , & my 2 survivors both have feathered feet. Their dad is my rooster so they may frizzle up. I have seen some pictures of the mums & they are all very pretty girls & their chicks are sweet. I'd love to have a couple survive.
these little ones make it.
