too many mommies

[Compost King]

I had this problem all summer long with my old english game bantams... so I sold all but one. They went group broody three times this year (5 of them plus one other bantam for a total of 6) and every time they would collectively hatch out one chick just to ignore all the other eggs. Usually that chick would die because they would lead him or her to deep water drinking holes and ignore the drinking stations I set up for chicks. I like broody hens but not those.

 

[flgardengirl]

My Key West hens often go broody in groups. They will get together and raise chicks together too. One time I was taking all their eggs so they couldnt hatch any and two hens got together and hid one egg buried in the corner of the coop. When it hatched they raised it together. Of course it turned out to be a spoiled little roo baby.
It is probably an instinct to prevent predators from eating up all their babies lol. No wonder Key West is overrun with chickens