Guinea hen and Chicken hen did a broody switch!

[glenolam]

So, I've got a case of "I don't know what to think" on my hands.

I've had a chicken on a clutch of eggs for about 2 1/2-3 wks, (depending on when the egg was laid). Saturday I went into the house to feed and I don't recall if the hen got up off the nest or if she was already gone - everyone rushed to me as they do every day (often I bring peace offerings of treats!) - and when they were all eating I heard a peep coming from a nest. Lo and Behold there was a chick completely dry and fluffy! So I took it and put it with my other chicks that I hatched in the bator hoping the hen would continue to sit on the other eggs.

Well, later on in the day she still hadn't gone back in the nest, but I figured I'd let mother nature figure this one out so I didn't take the eggs.

Sunday when I went in their was a guinea hen on the nest - I figured she was just laying an egg so I decided to wait until she was done to collect the chicken eggs and test them for viability. When I went in later in the afternoon she was still there! She got all bent out of shape when I was collecting the eggs from the other empty nests, so I tried to be quiet and quick.

This morning she's still there - ticked that I'm even looking at her. The hen, on the other hand, just roosts on the board in front of the nesting boxes. I think she's all done being broody and gave up when the chick hatched.

Do you think the guinea could hatch out any more chicks if the eggs didn't die in the day they were left unattended? Has anyone ever had them switch like this?

 

[Toast n Jelly]

I never had the experience of exchange but there's a good chance that the eggs will hatch.

People have had elec. outs and have still had good hatches. What a nice guinea hen!

 

[rooster0209]

guinea's are nasty when on the nest!

I would let nature take its course and see what happens. i have had a hen get off the nest during the "last two crucial days" (per incubator rules) and be off that nest for hours...then hatch every single egg.

 

[racuda]

Had both of them been laying in the nest?

 

[glenolam]

Sorry - things got crazy.

Well, there was ANOTHER switch. Turns out the guinea only wanted to sit for about 4 days. Then up she got.

Now I have a different hen sitting on the clutch! It's exhasting! No one shared the nest, so it's not getting over heated. My next concern would be if the eggs got too cold inbetween the broodies...

 

[chicks4kids]

Well if one hatched on the 19th, were they all supposed to hatch on or about that date??

 

[glenolam]

I would have thought so, but turns out the other eggs must have been laid well after that chick hatched - I candled to make sure I didn't have any quitters in there and they were all still forming, not complete blackouts as if there was a fully formed chick in there.

So I've let them be for a while and plan to candle again this weekend and take out any duds...

This is why I choose to use an incubator - I just can't trust my chickens!

 

[rosawoodsii]

Did you get any more chicks hatched?

 

[Cacklin" Hens]

If the eggs were left unattended for a full day, there is probably a chance of survival rate of 0-1% because if they started hatching and she left the nest and they had no heat or humidity then most likely all of them died. That is just my personal opinion from my experience. Hope this helps!

 

[Mahonri]

Cacklin" Hens :

If the eggs were left unattended for a full day, there is probably a chance of survival rate of 0-1% because if they started hatching and she left the nest and they had no heat or humidity then most likely all of them died. That is just my personal opinion from my experience. Hope this helps!

Agreed.​