Do you think a bantam hen can hatch a goose egg?

[Sunny Side Up]

I have a broody hen and a fertile goose egg. Do you think she could incubate it? The egg is from an Embden goose, the hen is a little mixed-breed bantam named Tarantula. She has successfully hatched out broods from standard sized eggs. This time I'd like to try giving her a goose egg.

I moved her inside the nest box she had chosen to a big wire & plastic rabbit cage on the patio. If she continues to set I will give her the goose egg tonight.

 

[KellyHM]

As long as she can cover it I don't see why she couldn't hatch it. It will be almost as big as her when it comes out though!

 

[ctaynton]

That is so funny! I had put 6 Rouen duck eggs under my silkie banty and as of this morning I had 3 hatched and all 6 had pipped! Those little banties are good little hatchers! I would definetly try it! It was my first time doing it! A friend of mind gave me the duck eggs and I had a super broody banty so...well...you know the rest! If I knew how to post a picture, I would.....

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I've given another broody bantam 6 duck eggs and she hatched 5 ducklings. They're almost 3 weeks old and taller than she is. Still, they love to nestle next to her each night and try to fit under her wings. I have another broody bantam who was given 3 duck eggs one week, then the next week had 3 chickens eggs added to her clutch. She's due to have them all hatch on Mothers' Day.

Tarantula, the hen, (so named by my young son because when she was a chick she was dark & fuzzy) has passed her first test, that of staying on the nest after being moved to a new location inside a broody cage. I just peeked in on her (the cage is covered for her privacy & better concentration) and she glared at me while setting tight on the golf ball in her nest box. If she stays there all day I'll swap the golf ball for a fresh goose egg we retrieved from my goose's nest last night.

My main concern is that she'll be able to turn the goose egg enough to keep the gosling growing well. Do you think I should mark the egg and turn it myself? Or at least check it to see that it's being turned? I usually don't candle eggs under broodies but I think I'll do it for this one, after how many days should I begin to look for veining?