Fighting mummas

[Maisiepup]

I have one mumma barnvelder with her 6 week old chicks and a new mumma barnvelder with her week old chicks. All our hens free range but they fight all the time. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Unfortunately that happens. They generally work it out after a bit. I generally let them fight it out while I supervise. If it gets to be too much I put one momma in a pen.

 

[sourland]

Monitor and if necessary separate - sometimes the chicks inadvertently get hurt.

 

[Maisiepup]

That's what I did.. put the new mumma back in the broody coop.. will try them again tomorrow when I finish work. Good excuse to sit with a cuppa and chick watch

 

[centrarchid]

What can be done is to provide cover patches, each with its own little feeding station. I also make so roosting areas are at least 10 feet apart. I often make so there is a feeding station per broody hen. Knowledge of acreage is also helpful. I am running two broody hens on about 2 acres currently. I make so feeding areas are at least 100 feet apart. During most of the day they are more than 100 feet apart while foraging except when I appear with feed bucket.