Broodys Fighting!

[CannedMonster]

My two broody moms have been raising their 4 chicks together for 11 days.
They incubated in the same nest the whole time together.
Suddenly today the bigger white bird (Bootsie) has started attacking the smaller bantam Japanese, Itsy.

Should I separate each Momma with 2 chicks each?
I do have a way to do this.
will they possibly fight later when the chicks are older and I need to let them out to integrate into the flock and forage?

 

[CannedMonster]

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Ok, you'd win the "Absolutely Most Adorable Mama Hen", photo contest! Those photos are priceless!

I would try dividing the chicks between the two hens. It will be traumatic enough, at least each hen will have a mini brood to care for.

Chicks grow up, and will no longer need either mama.

Best of luck, to your two beautiful hens, and chicks too!

God Bless

 

[CannedMonster]

Ok, you'd win the "Absolutely Most Adorable Mama Hen", photo contest! Those photos are priceless!

I would try dividing the chicks between the two hens. It will be traumatic enough, at least each hen will have a mini brood to care for.

Chicks grow up, and will no longer need either mama.

Best of luck, to your two beautiful hens, and chicks too!

God Bless

Thank you so much!
I just assumed things would continue to be fine between them but apparently not.
We managed to separate them into different small coops with attached run areas they can be in with their two babies each.
Bootsie tried to find the two black chicks for a while and kept upsetting the Naked Neck chicks that are with her.
She finally settled down though.
Unfortunately the two will be able to see each other’s chicks across the yard.
I hope this won’t continue to cause problems.
We might be able to move one but it will be hard to find level ground to put it on.
I’m planning on selling these chicks so I hope the mommas don’t mother them for too long.
I was thinking 2 or 3 months, I guess.
AND I have ANOTHER broody sitting on 4 eggs due to hatch May 5th!

 

[SurferchickinSB]

View attachment 1743451

View attachment 1743452

Aww...That’s so cute!

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Thank you so much!
I just assumed things would continue to be fine between them but apparently not.
We managed to separate them into different small coops with attached run areas they can be in with their two babies each.
Bootsie tried to find the two black chicks for a while and kept upsetting the Naked Neck chicks that are with her.
She finally settled down though.
Unfortunately the two will be able to see each other’s chicks across the yard.
I hope this won’t continue to cause problems.
We might be able to move one but it will be hard to find level ground to put it on.
I’m planning on selling these chicks so I hope the mommas don’t mother them for too long.
I was thinking 2 or 3 months, I guess.
AND I have ANOTHER broody sitting on 4 eggs due to hatch May 5th!

You could probably just put up some sort of barrier so they can’t see each other.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

I moved my chicks and their mama at 13 weeks, to the main coop. They did very well, mama was ready for them to be on their own. They were all bigger than mom!

I think SurferchickinSB, has a good idea. A barrier so they can't see each other. Perhaps an old sheet will work. You can take it down in a few weeks when things settle down.

 

[chickens really]

I move my Chicks and Mommas into the main flock when Chicks are 3 to 5 days old. No one messes with a Momma and her Chicks.

 

[CannedMonster]

I move my Chicks and Mommas into the main flock when Chicks are 3 to 5 days old. No one messes with a Momma and her Chicks.

I would do that but most of our property is fenced with chain link and the chicks have to be big enough not to fit through there before I’ll let them mingle with the main flock.
The big coop has no run, the whole yard is the run.

 

[chickens really]

I would do that but most of our property is fenced with chain link and the chicks have to be big enough not to fit through there before I’ll let them mingle with the main flock.
The big coop has no run, the whole yard is the run.

Not a big deal. My Chicks too always pop through but definitely don't go too far or Momma raises the alarm..