Two hens hatching chicks at the same time....

[soloequestrian]

This is in hope that my two araucanas will both go broody again this year! Last year I gave each of them some fertile eggs and they brooded them in different places. I put them into the same run once the chicks had hatched and one of the mums immediately started to peck the chicks that the other mum had hatched. I had to take her straight back out again and construct an emergency rearing run for just her - not fun! This year I'm a bit more switched on and wondered if I move them both to brood side by side (either with a low barrier or even on one big nest) will the each accept the other's chicks so I can keep them all in the same safe run? Once the chicks were a bit older and in a bigger space, the aggressive mum was fine and they all went about as a big group even once I let them go fully free range. Thanks for any advice!

 

[Mvan42]

Possibly but no guarantee.. it depends on the hens if they will accept the other chicks.. if she sees them or if you do a see no touch sort of environment they may.