Hijacker gets hijacked

Last summer I had this same problem—the German Bielefelder hen started sitting on eggs, trying to hatch them, only she wasn't very good at it.

http://lestersflat.blogspot.com/2018/07/happy-birthday-little-chicks.html

This year was a repeat performance. In early July, one of last year's youngsters decided to sit on eggs in the nest box. She was soon joined/kicked out by Biele. Blondie gave up 2 weeks ago and rejoined the others, but Biele was insistent that she could hatch some. Come September, no chicks, and my only white-egg layer is laying new eggs in with the old ones almost every day.

I ditched the old eggs twice, and finally took some from under her and gave them to Elmer, a neighbor with an incubator. Last year he hatched 4 fuzzballs from under Biele. Saturday he brought over 2 little blonde ones.

This inspired me to hijack the hijacker and put her in the big brooder box in the basement. If she ever does hatch any chicks, she won't be able to care for them on the second floor of the nest box. She was NOT happy—screamed and pecked at me the whole way back to the house. I thought maybe I could sneak the little ones in with her and her eggs, but no, just like last year she went after them when they came anywhere near her.

So all this ruckus in the basement had the regular residents all in a stir. Cyrus had his head poked through the cat door, trying to join the fun. At least he kept the cats from coming downstairs while I was getting the chicks and Biele set up. The MonkeyCat made his way down eventually and approved. Biele is happier without the heat lamp and the little pests. Chicks are happier with heat and food and water (and a visiting Monkey) all to themselves.

If Elmer hatches any more, it should be by the end of this week. Biele is sitting on 11. We could end up with far too many chicks at a time of year when it won't be easy to get them outside. We will have chickens in the basement until Christmas at this rate...