Need Help With a Decision, Please

[melanie]

I have a broody French Maran hen. She just went broody a couple of days ago. I do not want to hatch the chickens. I have 12 wild turkey eggs I got on Ebay, and 10 guinea eggs. Both incubators are set up and running. I need to make a decision. My hatch rate with guineas is not great. I've read turkeys are even tougher. I've read everything I can get my hands on about hatching turkeys. I have rocks in the incubator to stabilize the temp., etc. That said, which would I have better luck with; hen or incubator. The turkey eggs were expensive. Thanks. I would really like to put something under the hen tonight. Please let me know.

 

[nchls school]

I have a broody French Maran hen. She just went broody a couple of days ago. I do not want to hatch the chickens. I have 12 wild turkey eggs I got on Ebay, and 10 guinea eggs. Both incubators are set up and running. I need to make a decision. My hatch rate with guineas is not great. I've read turkeys are even tougher. I've read everything I can get my hands on about hatching turkeys. I have rocks in the incubator to stabilize the temp., etc. That said, which would I have better luck with; hen or incubator. The turkey eggs were expensive. Thanks. I would really like to put something under the hen tonight. Please let me know.

I have had the best luck with broody hens. The drawback is you're limited as far as how many eggs can be incubated. It's a common mistake for people to put too many eggs under a broody hen. If all the eggs are not adequately covered, different eggs will be chilled at different times until most or all have died in the shell. A good broody hen can hatch and raise a large variety of chicks, ducklings, and goslings. I have never had a hen brood turkey eggs, but had very good success with guinea eggs.

 

[WVduckchick]

I'd go with the incubator personally. Or maybe try half of each with her and the other halves in the Bator, then the Bator would be ready to finish if she doesn't. I would think that would be way too many eggs for the hen.