Many times here parties post interest / concern about two hens incubating and rearing chicks together. I generally recommend against allowing such because survival of chicks is often negatively impacted. For me with my birds (gamehens) that are exceptional mothers a single hen averages between 6 and 8 chicks reaching weaning age of about 5 weeks. When two hens work together then average weaned is cut roughly in half on a per hen basis even though a similar number of chicks may have been hatched. Some of the difference can come from hens not agreeing on where to go and occasional physical altercations. Allocation of time spent foraging versus brooding can also become problematic for chicks that need a proper balance. Another problem that just came to light is that such hens can me more prone to roost up before chicks are ready. Two hens that are well understood have been having problems in part because they seem bonded to each other. Both hens now roost up near each leaving chicks in the ground. The bonding between hens is interfering with bonds to chicks. Chicks are still roosting on ground sites used before hens went up. This could be survived owing to high temperatures although I put hens down with chicks each of the last three evenings.
