Bantams and large broody fowl

[macpee2]

Hi all,

Ive just joined this site, dont know how I missed it before.. I have 7 chickens and 2 seven week old chicks that I hatched in an incubator. I now have three bantam eggs in the incubator which are due to hatch Mon/Tues. I now have a broody hen and my question is could I put the three bantam eggs under her and allow her to hatch them, they are such small eggs I am worried she may damage them. I thought of putting them under her on Sunday evening, what do you all think, should I or shouldnt I.
Many thanks in advance

Macpee2

 

[SilkiesForEver]

Hi all,

Ive just joined this site, dont know how I missed it before.. I have 7 chickens and 2 seven week old chicks that I hatched in an incubator. I now have three bantam eggs in the incubator which are due to hatch Mon/Tues. I now have a broody hen and my question is could I put the three bantam eggs under her and allow her to hatch them, they are such small eggs I am worried she may damage them. I thought of putting them under her on Sunday evening, what do you all think, should I or shouldnt I.
Many thanks in advance

Macpee2

Hi!

I wouldn't put bantam eggs under a standard hen, just because of what you said. I would be worried she would crush the eggs and especially the chicks if they hatched.

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

If your hen only just went broody I won't give her eggs that are due to hatch in 2 days. Hens 'know" more or less when to expect chicks and if the eggs hatch a day or 2 after she started sitting on them it will confuse the heck out of her. In answer to your question, I have hatched LF eggs under bantams and bantam eggs under LF hens with no problems. The eggs didn't get crushed and the chicks were fine.

 

[macpee2]

Many thanks for your replies but Im still not sure, the LF has been broody for about 2 weeks, do you think this is too soon to introduce the eggs under her.