4 chicks 2 mother hens???

[invalidmicah]

I have two mother hens that were sitting on different eggs at the same time. The one hen's eggs started hatching. She got up mid stream and left a chick half out of its shell. We carefully put it under the other hen who welcomed it. After it was ok I wanted to make sure it didn't interrupt the hen that was still sitting, so we put the chick out with its original mother. She was ok with that. Later that evening we could not find either hens or chick any where. The hen that was suppose to be sitting on eggs left about 15 eggs (we dont' have an incubator). Later the next day they both appeared and are protecting 4 chicks together. Is any of this normal?

 

[moomoodiddy]

yea some hens will leave if some hatch you may have to seperate them so one doesnt hear and see if she goes back broody or find another broody hen to finish