Putting all chicks with one hen...

[TSC chicken lady]

I have a hen with a 2 week old chick, & 2 hens with chicks that hatched last night. At this time I have to keep babies away from the rest of my flock. The hens fight over the babies, so I put all the babies (1 older & 6 new) under one hen. She’s excepting them fine.
Question - how traumatized will the other 2 hens be after separation?

 

[MarkJr]

The other newly hatched and older momma will take a few days to get over it.

I am very surprised the 2 week old chick stuck to new momma. Acceptance at a few days old is a two way street from my understanding.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They will be traumatized.
Think "A Handmaid's Tale".
It sounds like you don't have enough space. You have 3 broody hens that are fighting?
I've had as many as 8 broody hens at a time, They free ranged and all kept their charges close by and sometimes the chicks would intermingle but the hens never really fought.

 

[TSC chicken lady]

The other newly hatched and older momma will take a few days to get over it.

I am very surprised the 2 week old chick stuck to new momma. Acceptance at a few days old is a two way street from my understanding.

The momma is the 2 week olds. I put the new ones in with her.

 

[TSC chicken lady]

They will be traumatized.
Think "A Handmaid's Tale".
It sounds like you don't have enough space. You have 3 broody hens that are fighting?
I've had as many as 8 broody hens at a time, They free ranged and all kept their charges close by and sometimes the chicks would intermingle but the hens never really fought.

Yes, it’s a small space. I didn’t plan on or prepare for chicks. I was in the hospital for a week, then my daughter had open heart surgery. My chicken caretakers didn’t think to pull eggs, so here we are. Lol

 

[MarkJr]

The momma is the 2 week olds. I put the new ones in with her.

If they’re accepted I say well played!!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yes, it’s a small space. I didn’t plan on or prepare for chicks. I was in the hospital for a week, then my daughter had open heart surgery. My chicken caretakers didn’t think to pull eggs, so here we are. Lol

That's always the way. Having animals always changes our plans.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Question - how traumatized will the other 2 hens be after separation?

For one to three days they will be upset. Then they will get over it. No long-lasting effects.

 

[TSC chicken lady]

They will be traumatized.
Think "A Handmaid's Tale".
It sounds like you don't have enough space. You have 3 broody hens that are fighting?
I've had as many as 8 broody hens at a time, They free ranged and all kept their charges close by and sometimes the chicks would intermingle but the hens never really fought.

The hens were upset, so I reworked the setup. 2 of them get along very well...even shared sitting on eggs. They seem to protect each other. They & the newest babies are together. The hen with the older chick is inside.
All seem to be very happy.