Broody hen fighting and taking chicks

[Smokey2201]

My old hen decided to go broody. My 1 year old hen and 3 year old hen had just hatched some chicks. The one hen has 4 1 week old chicks. The other has 8 couple day old chicks. The old hen Rosemary hatched 2 chicks. Then later i went out and couldn't find her 2 chicks. I looked under the hen with 1 week old chicks and they where under her. I don't know if i should leave them or put them back. The older chicks really like them they where all cuddling under the mama. Should i leave them or put them back under Rosemary?

 

[centrarchid]

Younger chicks will do better away from older chicks. This partly due to less social disputes. Also less competition for eats if free-range. Effort to keep broody hens apart to prevent conflicts. I raise lots of chicks using hens every year and have gotten point where ideal distance between broody hen is about 50 feet when they are given supplemental feed in piles for each hen. Distance needs to be greater when free-range forage provides all nutrition during first two weeks.

 

[Smokey2201]

OK thanks!