[Chicken sheila]

I have 2 problems that I could do with a bit of advice, I have had 1 lone hatch from my incububator that is now 5 days old, I have 7 hens of which 2 are sitting on eggs,5 between them. The 2 sitting on eggs are in a separate coop, they appear to swap eggs around when one of them nips out for a few minutes, although they appear relaxed with each other I'm concerned that when chicks are born they may squabble of them & potentially harm the chicks. So my questions are do I separate the 2 mothers to be or leave them where they are? & how can I integrate my lone chick in with the others when they are born? If we have hatching date right there will be 7 days between them. This is our first time at letting the hens do it themselves.

[ANHBUC]

Hi Sheila, If you have another coop for the broody I would put one in it after dark with a couple of eggs (unfertilised).  I would put all the fertile eggs under the other broody at the same time.  If the hen you move is settled on them in the morning I would take your chick and slide it under her and remove one of the eggs at the same time.  Do it calmly, close up the coop and listen for any hostilities.  Any problems remove the chick straight away.  Hopefully she will accept the chick and in a few days she will discard the other egg.   

[Chicken sheila]

Thanks, will give this a try & let you know the outcome!

[ANHBUC]

I have put chicks under a broody and taken away eggs successfully more than once so I will keep my fingers crossed for you.