too many mommies

[Shadrach]

not sure what to do about this situation. i have at least five of my hens sitting on the same eggs at the same time. its looks a bit crazy. View attachment 1914760 View attachment 1914761 View attachment 1914761

I've had double sits before and they were a disaster.
I've just had a triple sit, two nests and shared by three hens.
There are plus and minus points I've found so far. Once a couple of chicks had hatched the most senior hen decided to leave the nests. She had sat in both nest over the 21 days.
Once she had decided to leave the nest the other hens followed. It seems they'll follow the live hatched chicks in preference to sitting and hatching more. This meant I had a lot of viable eggs that didn't hatch.
I didn't get any egg breakages which is what tended to happen with double sits but the two nest were better nests.
In the end only three chicks got hatched out of 16 eggs.
Once out free ranging I haven't seen any problems. All three hens feed the chicks and as a bonus when free ranging all three hens will protect the chicks as well.
If you are not overly concerned about the number of chicks that hatch I would leave them to get on with it. With five mums you are not likely to have integration problems.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I've had double sits before and they were a disaster.
I've just had a triple sit, two nests and shared by three hens.
There are plus and minus points I've found so far. Once a couple of chicks had hatched the most senior hen decided to leave the nests. She had sat in both nest over the 21 days.
Once she had decided to leave the nest the other hens followed. It seems they'll follow the live hatched chicks in preference to sitting and hatching more. This meant I had a lot of viable eggs that didn't hatch.
I didn't get any egg breakages which is what tended to happen with double sits but the two nest were better nests.
In the end only three chicks got hatched out of 16 eggs.
Once out free ranging I haven't seen any problems. All three hens feed the chicks and as a bonus when free ranging all three hens will protect the chicks as well.
If you are not overly concerned about the number of chicks that hatch I would leave them to get on with it. With five mums you are not likely to have integration problems.

That's so interesting. Chickens are fascinating, and you always make the best observations.

Breakages would be my concern, as would the different hatch dates and broodies getting violent towards each other's chicks. But if the hatch rate isn't important.... So interesting!

 

[Becksdunn]

Do you have another nest box you can move some of the eggs to and split them up? That might work - or you could buy some of the dummy eggs if not enough eggs to go around.

That is kinda funny though.

yes there are two other nesting boxes next to the one they are all in.

 

[Becksdunn]

thank you all for all the wonderful advise. I will have questions to your answers soon.

 

[Becksdunn]

How old are these girls?
I would put most of them in a broody breaker crate and work to break their broodiness. When more than one hen tries to incubate a clutch of eggs, the eggs/chicks can suffer. Two broodies sometimes works but what you have there is ridiculous.

I am not knowing how to break broodieness, can you explain how I go about it, thanks.

 

[AllenK RGV]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/breaking-a-stubborn-broody.1275968/#post-20526074 I'd break some of those broodys. From the link above #8 & #9 offer great advice on how to get it done. Regards.

 

[NNYchick]

I just dealt with “too many mommies” drama. I started with 2 broody silkies divided up and gave 15 eggs total, fast forward 21 days later I had 3 more broodies add to the mix, lost eggs to fighting over nest and hatched 9. On hatch day every thing went ok, some how my serama ended up with four chicks from 1 eggs (apparently she stole chicks)
day 2 after hatch was when the drama started when everyone was bringing chicks out the serama became very protective if any of the other chicks came to her chick calls that were not from her 4 hand chosen brood she would viciously attack it.

I separated her and her chicks into a crate for a week and now things have seemed to work themselves out. My 3 silkies (1 decided she was done after the chicks hatched and jumped ship) are doing great co brooding the 5 chicks and the chicks go between them. All 9 chicks mingle and play together so no issues there. Next time I will break the late comers or at least the serama as my silkies seem to be happy just to have chicks and are good at co brooding.

 

[Becksdunn]

How many eggs are in there? Have you marked them with the date to keep track? Are they likely to be fertilized (do you have a rooster?) Like suggested, do you have more nest boxes to spread the eggs and mommas around? How many babies do you want?!

well I got a count of 30 eggs. let me explain why there were so many eggs left in the first place. I was out on vacation for 2 weeks. Well we see it was not done. I was not wanting chicks this late in the year. anyway I am going out tonight to candle the eggs to see what there is if anything. then I guess I will go from there.

 

[Becksdunn]

well I got a count of 30 eggs. let me explain why there were so many eggs left in the first place. I was out on vacation for 2 weeks. Well we see it was not done. I was not wanting chicks this late in the year. anyway I am going out tonight to candle the eggs to see what there is if anything. then I guess I will go from there.

oops I forgot to say I had someone who was supposed to take care of my birds while I was gone, I explained to him that he has to collect eggs every day so I don`t get baby chicks. well I guess I messed that all up.

 

[Becksdunn]

fdhere is am update on tooany mommies, i put two more nesting boxes and split the eggs up. two of my hens went to the new boxes at first. you can ser in the pic. well apparently that lasted all of a few hours. the next day i was cleaning there house and i heard a bany chirp, yea you gused it they are already hatching. this is so awesome been wanting chicks for awhile i just was waiting until spring.here ate a frw pictures.