Broody hen personality influence on her chicks

[TheFatBlueCat]

Hello wonderful BYC people. I have been wondering about the influence of broody hen personality and behavior and how that effects their chicks personalities.
I have hatched broods with 4 different hens so far, 3 of those hens having hatched multiple times. The chicks that are raised by 2 of the hens (both hens are araucanas) are consistently more chilled out, curious, confident and more trouble making in their youth. That also reflects the hens that raised them.
The chicks raised by my light sussex are not as friendly or confident. She is not a skittish hen but she is extremely protective as a mama.
The chicks raised by one hen that I then sold to another flock as she was just a useless mother and a scatter brained hen, are more skittish also and much less outgoing.

Does anyone else have experiences like this? I haven't hatched enough chicks or from a large enough number of hens to form a real hypothesis. These chicks are also from multiple breeds so that is a confounding factor, however this year I've hatched all the same crossbreed with the same father and have seen the same personality differences depending on hen that raised them. But again, I didn't hatch enough of them to say anything much either way.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Hello wonderful BYC people. I have been wondering about the influence of broody hen personality and behavior and how that effects their chicks personalities.
I have hatched broods with 4 different hens so far, 3 of those hens having hatched multiple times. The chicks that are raised by 2 of the hens (both hens are araucanas) are consistently more chilled out, curious, confident and more trouble making in their youth. That also reflects the hens that raised them.
The chicks raised by my light sussex are not as friendly or confident. She is not a skittish hen but she is extremely protective as a mama.
The chicks raised by one hen that I then sold to another flock as she was just a useless mother and a scatter brained hen, are more skittish also and much less outgoing.

Does anyone else have experiences like this? I haven't hatched enough chicks or from a large enough number of hens to form a real hypothesis. These chicks are also from multiple breeds so that is a confounding factor, however this year I've hatched all the same crossbreed with the same father and have seen the same personality differences depending on hen that raised them. But again, I didn't hatch enough of them to say anything much either way.

In short, YES. The personalities of broody mommas affect their chicks. Chicks learn what to fear, what to eat, where to sleep - all from their mommas. If a momma is scared of any human that walks by, her chicks instantly learn to be just as skittish. If she walks up to your feet for cuddles, her chicks follow.

 

[TheFatBlueCat]

Thanks I'm not out to lunch then on thinking this! Has anyone tried using this to raise more skittish breeds like leghorns? I like to keep a couple leghorn hens in my flock for the egg production in winter, if I put my leghorn chicks with one of my confident chick raising hens, I'm thinking I'm more likely to get less crazy leghorn hens. To the extent which nurture can overcome nature!