Choosing a Mama

[Shay1]

About three weeks ago I found one of my guinea hens went broody on a nest. I went ahead and took the eggs from her because there were too many, and she was not in the best location. I put the ones that looked like they were growing in my incubator, and they are now hatching. At the most I will have 29 keets. At about the same time I had an old english bantam go broody and I thought I would give her the babies. However, yesterday one of my silkies went broody. I only have room for one of them to raise babies and I am having trouble deciding which one to choose. Both of them have never raised babies before but seem to have good instincts. I am going to add supplemental heating and will monitor the chosen hen for aggression. I just find it easier to integrate guineas when they have an adult bird they have imprinted on.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I've heard it's not a good idea for guineas to imprint on chickens because of how different their behaviors are. That being said, I think both hens are far too small for that many keets

 

[Shay1]

I have a mixed flock of standard size chickens, bantams, and guinea fowl. I actually prefer any guinea keets we get to be raised with at least one chicken, so they understand that chickens are family. I have had hens raise just guineas and I have had a hen raise chicks and guinea keets at the same time. I am just wanting some opinions on which hen to choose, though I am leaning towards the old english just because she has been broody longer. If I notice any issues with the hen, I will remove her.