Surrogate mother fighting

[Lynne Schultz]

I brought in 6 baby chicks which I was raising in my nursery (a separate enclosure from the big hens) - then one of my grown hens became very broody and wanted to be in with the chicks so I let her. She's been a great mom but now that it's time for them to join the others, the mother hen is fighting with the other grown chickens. The other grown hens didn't seem to be picking on the babies - but they do seem to be picking on the surrogate mother. Not sure why or what to do -

 

[wrathsfarm]

I brought in 6 baby chicks which I was raising in my nursery (a separate enclosure from the big hens) - then one of my grown hens became very broody and wanted to be in with the chicks so I let her. She's been a great mom but now that it's time for them to join the others, the mother hen is fighting with the other grown chickens. The other grown hens didn't seem to be picking on the babies - but they do seem to be picking on the surrogate mother. Not sure why or what to do -

How long has she been with the chicks?
Separating your surrogate from the flock pulled her from the pecking order. She's having to re-establish her spot now that she's considered a new comer.
Your basically going to have to reintegrate her if the fighting gets too bloody.

I would set up a cage and run for her to be in a look no touch scene for at least a week if the fighting escalates, but I worry about the chicks safety with the fighting.
Edited to add..if they were look no touch, there's still an amount of quarrelling from the broody and flock to get her status back in play that's usually normal.