So at Easter one of our six chickens hatched four lovely chicks, so she is v. happy and living in one of our hen houses with attached run and fenced off bit. She can bounce in and out and the chicks are safe in there. Now BOTH my pekins have gone broody, one has taken up residence in the other main hen house and the other in a small A frame construction thing we have.
Well, the other three chickens are a bit stuffed - they don't know where to lay and although they have lots of space in their mini paddock, with piles of straw in opportune places, its hard to see if any of them have laid in days! Occasionally they 'break in' to where the chicks are, rush upstairs and lay an egg, but I think its only the bright one who can do that 
Should I take both the Pekins out and put them in a dog cage out in the paddock with water and food? It just seems to be a bit cruel.
I spend all day turfing Pekins off nests and then locking them out while I try to encourage the others in.
Egg production has fallen off a cliff so to speak! How long can this broodiness continue and is the chicks who have caused the others to go all mumsy on me....
I would be happy to hatch some more eggs, but the mother and baby unit is full at the moment, so to speak!
Any advise as to what to do and how long for?