Hens co-parenting?

[RIredlady]

We’ve got 4 chicks that these two clucks are taking pretty good care of. Silly stuff I gotta say.

 

[janiedoe]

I've had very good luck with co-parenting hens. I have a cuckoo marans and a buff orpington who have hatched together and raised chicks together twice. They had an excellent hatch rate and all chicks were healthy and survived. My cm is sitting now. I expect my buff to go broody any day now.
Good luck to you and your mama hens and chickies too.

 

[Lilalienangel]

I have 4 hens successfully coparenting right now. It was a staggered hatch no less. However, it use to be five. They singled out one hen and tried to kill her. A swath of missing feathers across the neck and a 1/2 inch laceration above her vent on her back. This was about a week or so ago. I had to separate her. I gave her 2 chicks though to get her through momma stage.. Thank goodness she is ok.. The rest are still being champs though..

 

[RIredlady]

The two hens are doing fantastic co parenting now that I’ve moved them to another coop.

 

[RogueRoosterRanch]

One thing I have learned in these forums is NOTHING is certain. I have had hens co-parenting. They were wonderful. They naturally introduced the chicks to the flock. Never had to be separated. They were in their own nesting box. We have a VERY large coop with lots of nesting boxes, but the 3 hens went broody together. Sat on their clutches in the sane large nesting box. All the flock gets along well with the mom's and the chicks. Also, i've noticed the roosters want to protect them. Yes, we have multiple roosters and that works out fine for us. There is a pecking order, but they get along. We've raised chickens for seven years. We've never lost a chicken to a predator or disease. We feed them organically and do not give them hormones or antibiotics. I have to believe that animals in the wild have natural instincts and Mother Nature knows what she's doing. So, I say if it ain't broke, don't fix. I realize I am saying this 11 months too late. Lol.