Switching chicks to different mom's

[gmachicken]

We were a bit excited when our first was hatched, a banty, under our best brooder and went out to diversify our flock by buying 2 Auracanas and a BO. They are now almost 2 weeks old and the little one takes it in the shorts so to speak. We have two other hens with 2 & 3 each when the 2nd one hatched out her first we got another couple of Auracanas. So the question is can we switch around the babies so the little ones are together and the big ones together? It is late so the brain is half asleep I hope the question is clear. One thing we are concerned with is how tiny some of the banties are and the bigger chicks with them.

 

[Kittymomma]

I'm a little confused. Are these chicks in a brooder or with broody hens? If they're in a brooder you can do it, but watch close because sometimes even young chicks can be pretty aggresive to a newbie. If they are with broody hens then no, you can't. The mammas know who belongs to them and who doesn't and they can kill chicks that aren't theirs. At the very least they probably won't take care of them. I've heard of some exceptions to that (usually a silky hen) but I sure wouldn't risk the chicks that way on purpose.

 

[gmachicken]

Thank you, I thought if not that the chicks would find their own Mama.
We have 11 chicks under 3 hens. The oldest are 2 weeks old and the youngest is 3 days old.