Two broodies in the same coop - will the chicks get confused?

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

When I had multiple moms (three at once), they all shared the chicks and treated them all as their own. The chicks used all the mothers as their moms indiscriminately. One of the hens lost interest early on, leaving the other two to raise the chicks - I'm not sure what that was about, but it didn't upset anyone. I never experienced fighting between the mama hens

My hen left the rooster to care for them at four weeks

 

[AliBia]

Glad it is working well for the op. I seem to get multiple broodies frequently. The way it will work out is different each time. Like mentioned above where chicks and moms are just one big group happens, but in my standard coop I am more likely to see something else. Some broodies don't let the other mom and chicks near them. Some will let the other chicks come along, but not the other mother, while a few don't seem to care what the other mother does, but will attack the other chicks.
I tend to let them work it out, but sometimes I need to make sure separate feeders and waters are offered untill weening even though they are all together in the coop.

I am sure it is different depending on the individual personality of the hens. I'm grateful that these two mammas have accommodated each other fluidly. I haven't yet got them free-ranging with the rest of the flock as the chicks are still 10 days old. In another week hopefully, the crazy rains will also ease out a bit to allow for free-ranging. We will see how the mammas respond then. Fingers crossed they'll all be okay <3

 

[AliBia]

Looks like all is going well! I have two broody hens in my coop at the moment, and this is my first hatch (due in a few days).

Wishing you all the very best!! Share some photos once they have settled with their chicks Meg.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

It's just over a year since I've been a chicken daddy. Two of my hens are sitting on clutches of seven and six eggs in the same run in a broody coop, and about to hatch in the next four days. They are fine sharing that space when they get off for their one-time food, drink and mega poop time.

I plan to shift them to an Eglu cube with a three-meter run.
Somehow I feel they will be fine sharing that space with their chicks for a few weeks until the babies feather properly.

BUT my doubting mind questions.
Will the hens fight over the chicks?
Will the chicks get confused about their respective mammas?
Could the common feed and water container pose a challenge?

My gut feeling says they'll be fine. BUT kindly enlighten me if you have had a similar experience.
Gratitude!

it just depends on the breed and temperment. I had a Rhode Island Red and an Australorp, they were in the same nest, and they accidently crushed most of their eggs. they ended up with one chick, and they shared it nicely, with one hen showing it how to be a chicken, and the other chasing away any barn cats who came too near.

 

[Indio Gigante Lover]

Glad to hear your multi-brood has been working out well! I think it does depend on the individual hens how it works out.

I had my 1st multi brood last summer, consisting of Queenie (dominant hen, that always shares a brood with her girlfriend, so 2 Moms, 1 brood there, with 7 chicks), and then another hen with 5 chicks. At first, chicks kept close to their real moms. As they got a little older, chicks wanted to play together, but Queenie would always try to spoil the party, while her girlfriend & the other Mom were OK with chicks playing together. At night, chicks always ended up with their own mothers. Everyone survived, and they were in a very large run & coop with about 10 other hens & a rooster.

 

[LittleD]

I have one chick who has been sitting on eggs for a couple of weeks (only 2 i think are fertilised) and now i have another chicken who seems to be taking over half the time ... i need to move the eggs and mum to a lower coop for the last few days... do i move both mums or one? not sure what to do!!

 

[Indio Gigante Lover]

Sorry I can't give any tips on how to actually successfully make the move, as I've never tried moving a nesting hen. I've read it can be kind of risky though. If you do try it, I'd only move the original mother with the eggs. The 2nd hen is a free-loader. She knows eggs will be hatching soon, and is hoping to claim chicks as hers when they hatch, without having did any of the work. Potential trouble if they have a fight for the chicks. I have 2 hens that always both sit the whole time on a nest & they do OK, but it seems late arriving free-loaders are usually trouble.

I have found it's amazing how chicks can follow their Mom & get down from high places though. I had 1 get in the garage once & lay eggs up behind some boxes on a workbench. I did put a couple chairs by it for them to hop down on 1st, & chicks all got down OK. Mom found a suitable ground level spot after that for them all to go to every night.

Best wishes for success what ever route you take!!

 

[Yardmom]

I would not try to move a broody who has been sitting a couple weeks. If she must be moved wait until the chicks hatch. As far as the second mom goes she has not been sitting very long, so she might not pay much attention to the chicks because her instincts and hormones won't be ready for hatch. Or it could be the other extreme and attack the chicks. One never knows. When I and the others on the thread with success at co-parenting hens the hens started together.

Personally I would place the second mom in a cage either to break broodiness or give her, her own eggs to sit on. You might be able to move a hen that has recently become broody.