Is it possible to get two Brody hens to adopt and then coparent chicks together?

[fmorlando1]

I have a broody hen that has successfully adopted chicks I ordered from a hatchery once before. She’s a very good mother and had hatched out her own clutch of chicks the year before. I waited until she went broody and then order chicks from the hatchery that will be arriving on Monday. She’s currently sitting on a clutch of fake and non-fertile eggs. In the meantime, another hen has gone broody in the egg box next to her, and they have started swapping places and taking turns sitting. I’m getting ready to move hen one into a separate brooding box inside a large dog crate. The brooding box and crate are big enough for both hens. If I move them both, do you think they will both accept the chicks and then coparent? They are both buff Orpington‘s.

 

[Reggan]

I had two hens who hatched slightly staggered clutches at the same time (within days). These were Buff Brahmas. It was awful once they started hatching. They wanted to kill each other and steal each others chicks. After two days of fighting and stressing out my entire flock, I separated them until the chicks were 3-4 weeks old. I am fortunate to have a good sized safe run for broodys and quarantine, when needed. I rotated the families in and out, every other day, for free ranging. I tried free ranging them at teh same time, the 1st couple weeks. It was NO GO, they couldn't even be out on 2 acres at the same time. It was like having two roosters. They fought to the point of blood. I read many people have had very good luck with "co-parenting". My girls weren't having it. I've never attempted again, lol!

 

[Pigeony]

It depends on the birds and how well they get along. I've had pairs and trios of broodies cobrooding, but be prepared to separate if they just can't get along. Some arguments are expected at first but make sure babies aren't involved and no one's actually getting hurt past ruffled feathers.

 

[ChurchGirl]

It is possible but you have to be careful and be watching them to make sure they don't fight. Hens can be very protective of their chicks. If the hens are not mean to each other than I'd say go ahead but as soon as you see them fighting you might have to separate them.

 

[fmorlando1]

I had two hens who hatched slightly staggered clutches at the same time (within days). These were Buff Brahmas. It was awful once they started hatching. They wanted to kill each other and steal each others chicks. After two days of fighting and stressing out my entire flock, I separated them until the chicks were 3-4 weeks old. I am fortunate to have a good sized safe run for broodys and quarantine, when needed. I rotated the families in and out, every other day, for free ranging. I tried free ranging them at teh same time, the 1st couple weeks. It was NO GO, they couldn't even be out on 2 acres at the same time. It was like having two roosters. They fought to the point of blood. I read many people have had very good luck with "co-parenting". My girls weren't having it. I've never attempted again, lol!

Thanks for your comment. I’ll definitely keep an eye on them. If I can’t get coparenting I’d be happy with coexistence. I do have the ability to completely separate if necessary.

 

[fmorlando1]

Update: last night I moved the two broody hens into the large dog crate. I had put two smaller brooding boxes into the crate and put one hen in each. This morning when I went out to check on them they were both snuggled up in the same box. I’m taking this as a good sign they are going to get along, but I’ll continue to watch carefully, especially when I had the chicks.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I let a broody and her hatchling (not genetically related) brood together. It was a disaster. They stole each other’s eggs and broke them and I got one chick out of over a dozen eggs. Being in the same nesting box is not necessarily a sign of cooperation but of possessiveness. Someone who has had success with more than one broody feel free to correct me. Lots of people here have had success with this method and if I could remember them I would tag them! Hopefully they chime in

 

[RoyalChick]

I think @BDutch has experience (hope I am remembering correctly).

 

[nuthatched]

It does happen but my hens just argue and crush the eggs.

 

[BDutch]

I let a broody and her hatchling (not genetically related) brood together. It was a disaster. They stole each other’s eggs and broke them and I got one chick out of over a dozen eggs. Being in the same nesting box is not necessarily a sign of cooperation but of possessiveness. Someone who has had success with more than one broody feel free to correct me. Lots of people here have had success with this method and if I could remember them I would tag them! Hopefully they chime in

I had broodies who brooded together several times. Mother and daughter, not relater, sisters…

Sometimes they made a lot of fuss, sometimes it went well. The relation is not what triggers their behaviour imo.
Never had broken eggs. But last time the broodies kicked out eggs in the 3th week that were alive.

I suppose best chances of a good hatch is to have just one broody in another area / coop, where she can brood quietly. Without other hens who can interfere.
But if a hen starts to sit where this is not possible/very inconvenient (like my situation) its often not easy/impossible to replace her.