Will a hen with chicks kill another hen's chicks

[card5640]

I have had 2 broods about 2 weeks apart, the moms shared the chickens but when one mother would go near the other mother they would squawk and flail at each other, but they allowed the chickies to intermix and took care of each others babies. One night one mother had only 3 babies under her and the other Mom had 9, they each hatched 6. No other hens could come near them, they are evil to other hens for many weeks after the hatch.

 

[sluallen]

I had 2 broody mommas hatch out chicks a few days apart. I just watched one momma kill the other momma's week old chick. Yesterday the other chick mysteriously died. I am now guessing it was my murderous Astra White as well. My poor experienced Astralorpe lost the whole litter of 2.