Can you cheat a broody out of her settin' days?

[ScoobyRoo]

I have mentioned in another post that I have a broody chicken hen that just started settin (5 days already) I hope to pick up some guineas next week if the hatchery has them. She will have been setting for about 10+ days by then. I have her setting in unfertalized duck eggs right now. I hope to pull those out and put the guineas under her. I just wondered if they had to set the full 21 days or they wouldn't know the difference? Anyone cheated their hens out of setting days and how did they do?

 

[Barred Rocks forever]

yep i cheated mine out bought some eggs on ebay and she hatched them the other day

 

[Lollipop]

Well, lessee, 10 days already, 28 days on the guinea eggs = 38 days? Most hens are good for it if they aren`t desturbed. Some just up and quit even before 21 though. Pen her alone and she should make it........Pop

 

[greathorse]

Well I have discovered the most fool proof way to break up a broody is to put a bunch of eggs under her with no backup plan LOL. I am two for two this spring, both were pullets. I would sure try it if I were you but i would have back up plan unless you aren't real invested in your guinea eggs. I just went for the third one today and put some nice Marans eggs under a very stubborn broody. I am guessing she will get off of them in about 48 hours. Acutally this is her second time around so I think she may stay on them this time.

Good luck with yours It should work but like I said........

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Quote:
Oops. I should have clarified that. I'm getting guinea keets not eggs.

 

[Barred Rocks forever]

keets its gonna be hard its like letting a american girl baby sit chinese kits they dont know what there saying lol as long as shes in a pen it maybe ok ?

 

[ScoobyRoo]

I do have the broody hen in a roomy hutch by herself.

 

[Barred Rocks forever]

its warm out so worth a shot i supose try to do it at night when shes asleep

 

[greathorse]

I dunno about that one either for sure have a back up plan on this one. Make sure she is sitting tight and put them under her after dark. Take the eggs and put the keets under her. It has for sure has been done. I think the bigger issue is whether or not the keets will stay under her. They should but they are wacko skittish little buggers.

 

[Barred Rocks forever]

i think doing it at 5 or 4 would be good cuz then in like 3 or 4 hours you can see how there making out keep us posted