3-mother team?

[User395221]

I've done something impetuous and now I'm neurotically thinking of how it will turn out badly.

Last time I had my 2 girls (in avatar) go determinedly clucky, so I got them some fertile eggs to sit on. That all worked out well, they just acted as a team all through.

I've just realised with 3 girls, they might not act as a team? Has anyone had experience with 3-girl teams? If their "friendship" breaks down, who should I move? Just take out one girl and the chicks (assuming there are chicks and they don't cannibalise the eggs or something). (the girls are 2x silkies and one silkie/polish cross - the polish cross is quite cranky about being disturbed, she fluffs up and tries to peck you and screams at you. The other 2 girls remain calm all the time. Is the polish likely to "turn aggro" against the other girls, or the babies?)

 

[Nyla]

When I had my chickens, they would knock down the nesting box dividers and build one huge nest together. I had 12 chickens 1 rooster at the time. Only 4 would actually lay on the eggs, the rest would guard their coops. The 4 that would lay on the eggs did wonderfully well together. They hatched 38 chicks out of 43 eggs.. Did not want those chicks..
They teaming should be fine. But if one or more isn't lay on the eggs, they will try laying eggs in the nests which will make staggered hatching or abandoned eggs.

As for the hens attacking the chicks, the mom hens will protect them.

 

[User395221]

Thanks so much, I feel better now.

 

[Nyla]

Your very welcome! If you need anymore help I'm always on!

 

[User395221]

Today, I go out there and only one girl is on the "baby" eggs. Right-o, I think, until i realise that the original 3 "mums" are all in the other nest boxes and it's Paulina who is on the baby eggs....

I just hope nobody fights over the babies (if there are any) or hurts them

 

[Nyla]

They won't hurt the babies. My Mocha is walking around with her 6 ducklings in their Aviary with 15 other full grown Muscovy's (3 Males and 12 females) and none of them are aggressive nor mean to them. Most of them have never even seen ducklings till the Mocha's. I normally take them away as soon as they hatch. But Mocha got smart and made a nest under the coop so I couldn't get to them. Now the are too fast to catch and my other Muscovy's come running at me if I try taking them.

 

[User395221]

They won't hurt the babies.

i hope not, but i have read that chickens can turn against the babies. i just hope they sort out who are going to be the mummies and not get into a dispute about it. At the moment, everybody seems to be piling on. that's if i even get any babies, i'm feeling quite discouraged this time around.

 

[Nyla]

It;s a waiting game,but well worth it! Stay strong there! Your hens will make it work! Have faith in them!

 

[keesmom]

They're living creatures so no one can predict how they will act. However as encouragement I will say I have had a group of 3 silkie hens work together to raise a bunch of chicks multiple times while the lone Fav cross worked as lookout.

Sometimes one hen would hatch the chicks, other times all 3 hatched chicks. It didn't matter who did the work, or even if the others were even broody at the time but all 3 would take over mothering them - those chicks could go to any one of those hens for warmth, food or to feel safe. Meanwhile the one non-crested bantam in the bunch would be lookout for predators (and she never has gone broody). It was interesting to watch.

 

[User395221]

Thanks keesom, I wasn't/ am not that worried about the group of 3, it's the group of 4/musical chickens that is now freaking me out....