Hatching game birds under a chicken?

[Keeperofmunchkins]

My husband has been given some Francolin eggs to hatch (similar bird to a partridge I believe). I know the advice is that game birds should not be kept with chickens because chickens carry diseases that they can transmit, but is there a significant risk in a chicken hen incubating the eggs? If I remove the chicks immediately at hatch will it make it safer?

Also what diseases specifically are commonly transmitted from chickens to game birds?

 

[sylviethecochin]

I believe that coccidiosis, ulcerative enteritis, blackhead, fowl cholera, avian tuberculosis, and possibly Newcastle disease can pass to pheasants. I think that those last three have to mutate some before they can pass from chickens to pheasants, but I'll tag @007Sean, since he actually raises game birds.

(Note that it was a lot easier to research pheasants than partridges. i'm aware they're not the same bird, but I assume if a disease can switch between chickens and pheasants, it can likely do it between chickens and partridges as well.)

 

[007Sean]

@sylviethecochin mention the most common of the diseases that can be spread from chickens to gamebirds. Most respiratory diseases can be contacted from chickens too!

Although some people do hatch gamebird eggs under a broody chicken and don't report any problems, it's better to play it safe! Once under the broody the eggs have already been exposed to the chicken and whatever diseases they may be carrying. Once hatched the risk goes up exponentially.
I wouldn't chance it with Francolins, they are difficult enough to raise without complicating the situation.