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Broody Hens and Mixed-species Families
I usually have at least one hen that goes broody about this time of year, and sure enough, I have one barred rock out there right now, bound and determined to hatch a bunch of unfertilized eggs.
In the past when this has happened I've quickly ordered some fertile hatching eggs from McMurry or some other hatchery to slip under the hen at night. Out of a dozen eggs I usually get six or so live chicks. It's always fun and gratifying to watch the mama raise the babies, and it's also a LOT less work than having to raise chicks myself.
This year though I'd like to try something different, maybe slip a few turkey eggs under that hen, or maybe ducks or geese. Does anyone here have any experience with having their hens hatch eggs of other kinds of fowl? I've heard it can be done, but that's about all I know about it!
In the past when this has happened I've quickly ordered some fertile hatching eggs from McMurry or some other hatchery to slip under the hen at night. Out of a dozen eggs I usually get six or so live chicks. It's always fun and gratifying to watch the mama raise the babies, and it's also a LOT less work than having to raise chicks myself.
This year though I'd like to try something different, maybe slip a few turkey eggs under that hen, or maybe ducks or geese. Does anyone here have any experience with having their hens hatch eggs of other kinds of fowl? I've heard it can be done, but that's about all I know about it!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mickalyn Crawford Zone 5 on -
I've set goose eggs under banty hens, usually 2 eggs, and they have hatched them. my hens have hatched duck eggs too. But you have to take the baby ducks away from the hen after they hatch. Ducks, geese, and turkey take an unmedictated feed. If you feed them medicated chick feed it will kill them. Ducks and geese need more water than baby chicks. Also if baby geese get their backs too wet before they get feathers, they will go down in the back and can't walk. Weird, I know. Momma goose makes sure they don't get their backs wet before they feather out.
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Permalink Reply by Kim Beall on -
Hmm, well that ought to be OK then - there's no place in my baby pen where baby waterfowl can get wet (I use a shallow, suspended automatic-watering bowl in there) and I won't be raising any baby chicks for the rest of the year, so no need for medicated feed. Thanks for letting me know - I will be careful what feed I buy for them!
Where do you get your fertile goose eggs?Mickalyn Crawford said:I've set goose eggs under banty hens, usually 2 eggs, and they have hatched them. my hens have hatched duck eggs too. But you have to take the baby ducks away from the hen after they hatch. Ducks, geese, and turkey take an unmedictated feed. If you feed them medicated chick feed it will kill them. Ducks and geese need more water than baby chicks. Also if baby geese get their backs too wet before they get feathers, they will go down in the back and can't walk. Weird, I know. Momma goose makes sure they don't get their backs wet before they feather out. -
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Permalink Reply by diana Z9 Houston, Texas on -
It is possible. The only thing is when the other than chickens hatch and they look for water, the hens will get confused but when they do find water, the hens tend to forget about them after awhile. You need to be careful about the turkeys, when they get bigger, they will fight chickens so you will have to separate them.
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Permalink Reply by Julie Buck on -
I've raised, ducks, geese, turkeys, pheasants, quail and guinea fowl under my hens. Sometimes eggs that they hatch out, sometimes chicks slipped under at night. Ya oughta see a hen worry when her brood of ducks jumps in the water dish and splashes around. I have Aracauna hens who will try to hatch golf balls if left to their own judgement. Last year Irene hatched two chick on Dec 9th, about 6 below zero. Fortunately we saw her the first day with new babies scratching around in the straw stack, caught the "family" and locked her in the greenhouse. Not much warmer there, but at least out of the snow. I put a full bale of straw in for them and she made a nice cozy nest. Saved both chicks. Unfortunately they think my greenhouse is home and I'm having problems keeping them out of the tomatoes.
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