I know this has been talked about before but............

[CoyoteMagic]

Has anyone actually hatch quail chicks under a broody hen?


I've got an OEG cross setting on eggs right now and wondering if I should slip some quail eggs under her. I don't have an incubator yet and I'm wanting to hatch some of these Bobwhite eggs.

Anyone?

 

[aprophet]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=339833

the link I gave here is one of the few publications I have seen that actually recommend doing what you are asking . I won,t try it because everybody I have talked to here recommends against it . mostly because for disease reasons

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Thanks. I just want her to hatch them. I'd remove them after they hatched because I've heard they can tear up chicken chicks like they tear up each other.

 

[aprophet]

I had 2 bob chicks born about a week after some A&M's hatched one of my A&M's is kina momma'ing the 2 bobs I kina feared for A & M'S safety when I put the little bobs in with them LOL lockdown for me was today on my latest hatch I should start seeing fuzzy butts in the next day or so . I would almost be scared for the chickens LOL them little bobs are mean little snots full of mischeif

some of the coturnix I have hatched have been the same way grabbing each other by the wing,toes dragging each other around . anyway good luck with your project

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I'm not sure if I want give it a shot or not. I've raise the Bob chicks before and they can be scary. My first batch almost killed each other off. As soon as one was injured they would all go after that one until it was dead.

I found out later that you can't brood them under a white light. They just tend to go crazy under it.

 

[missred871]

I am currently in the process of hatching quail eggs under a hen. Unfortunately I have some to find that even my banty hens are too heavy for the courtnix eggs. Since they are so fragile, one wrong foot placement and SPLAT but the bobs are handling well and so are the buttons. It is highly recommended that you removed them as asoon as possible after hatch though. As you do not want any disease or any parasitic contamination. I think utilizing mother nature is wonderous. Unfortunately I will be investing in an incubator for my cort. eggs since the hens seem to be failing miserably with them but I havent had a damaged bob or button. They are fine so if you are aiming to hatch bobs I say go for it. Just make sure to remove them. If you are highly concerned with disease.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I tried to give a broody OEGB some coturnix eggs last year, and she would have nothing to do with them. If your hen will accept the eggs, then she shouldn't have any problems....most my chickens are so used to getting quail egg 'treats' that they'd probably eat them if I gave them some to set!