Chicks switching moms?

[JHillgrove]

I have two clutches of chicks right now in the chicken coop. A Barred Rock with 3 chicks and a Domonique with 7 chicks. I went to check on them and the Dom. only had 4. I was so worried. I looked all over before finally looking under the BR and there they were. Did they switch moms? Or are they confused because their moms look alike? Or are the mothers helping eachother out?

Is this normal?

I am worried the mothers will notice they have each others chicks and start fighting.
What do you think?

 

[AccentOnHakes]

It'll be fine, don't worry about it.

 

[goofy98]

lol I had that happen to me ones but the mom was a BR and she had I think 8 or 9 and 4 wint missing and looked out in the pen and found my other chicken with them she didint even have any chicks of her own and she was mothering them so I gess she adopted them and she raised them but it was so wierd.

 

[JHillgrove]

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Thats cute! Thanks. I guess I wont worry.

 

[spowell]

I have one hen that has been on 6 eggs, when she gets up to eat/poop, another hen goes and sits on her eggs. They have been swapping eggs for about 2 weeks now

Well the eggs started hatching two days ago and both are sitting the remaining eggs and sharing the babies. they have the tag team approach.

You gotta love Silkies!!!

 

[jenanneray]

I have 2 hens that are currently sharing chicks. One hatched them out, the other I gave chicks because she was terrible about sitting on a nest. They have been sharing chicks peacefully since day one, and doing great. The babies are about 3weeks old now.

 

[wbruder17]

I also have "Broody Buddies". Mama, my Silkie, and Aunt Lou, my banty cochin. The names are very fitting because all Aunt Lou does is keep Mama company. Mama steals eggs and chicks from Aunt Lout, probably because she's not so goood at it, but she's a great auntie. She doesn't care if Mama has all the eggs or chicks, she still thinks she's doing somethiing and loves being with Mama.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/59865_2011-08-17_17-24-06_687.jpg

 

[JHillgrove]

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Thats so sweet! Thanks for sharing.

 

[rhino533]

My 2 Japanese Bantam Hens have been sharing the nest every since they started laying eggs. When one goes broody the other will go broody right away and they sit on the nest together. They both squeeze in and do a great job taking care of the chicks. They just hatched a bunch of eggs today. Both are splitting the parenting job.

 

[JHillgrove]

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I just love these sweet stories.