Hens and chicks

[erkellerfarms]

please help. i had 3 chicks hatch this morning and i have two hens wanting them. i thpught i should just pick the one that the chicks were staying with and when i went back out there to move the hen and chicks to a secluded pen the other hen was right there outside the pen determined to be with the chicks. (that was about 4-5 hours ago). Do i seperate them like i was planning or do i just let nature take its course and let them both be their mothers?

 

[azygous]

I vote for letting the two hens work it out. It's not unusual for two hens to co-raise chicks. What's better than one caring mommy? Two caring mommies!

 

[aart]

Hmmm...was the second bird broody and setting on eggs?
If she wasn't broody I'd suspect her interest.
I'd leave the chicks with the broody hen that hatched them.
Leave them behind wire within sight of the flock, then allow them and mama out after about a week.