Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[nchls school]

Do y'all think it will be ok to set quail eggs under my hen when she goes broody again

If the hen is small enough to not break the quail eggs, possible. I am not sure how the quail chicks will react with a hen mother.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Do y'all think it will be ok to set quail eggs under my hen when she goes broody again

I can see a lot of problems----eggs break easy, quail gets flighty real quick so they would have to be taken away quick or placed in a quail pen.

 

[emmie325]

She's a bantam hen and she has hatched out quite a few chicks and took care of them I tried incubating quail eggs they never survive so if I do put quail eggs under her and they hatch and survive should I take them out and put in a brooder

 

[PD-Riverman]

I tried incubating quail eggs they never survive

What Happens, they hatch and die?? I know so many that hatch a truck load of quail-----seeing if we can help you with the problem.

 

[nchls school]

She's a bantam hen and she has hatched out quite a few chicks and took care of them I tried incubating quail eggs they never survive so if I do put quail eggs under her and they hatch and survive should I take them out and put in a brooder

From what PD-Riverman posted, yes, the chicks need to be taken and put in a brooder. This I am sure he is right in saying. Quail and chicken chicks are quite dissimilar. I also agree that quail eggs break easily and bantam covers a wide variety of sizes. My 10 ounce serama might be able to brood and hatch corturnix quail eggs. Some corturnix are of similar size.

 

[emmie325]

What Happens, they hatch and die?? I know so many that hatch a truck load of quail-----seeing if we can help you with the problem.

What I think it might be is the humidity goes up and goes down because the weather goes from cold to hot I have a still air incubator with the knob to increase and decrease the heat

 

[emmie325]

From what PD-Riverman posted, yes, the chicks need to be taken and put in a brooder. This I am sure he is right in saying. Quail and chicken chicks are quite dissimilar. I also agree that quail eggs break easily and bantam covers a wide variety of sizes. My 10 ounce serama might be able to brood and hatch corturnix quail eggs. Some corturnix are of similar size.

What if they were jumbo Browns

 

[PD-Riverman]

What I think it might be is the humidity goes up and goes down because the weather goes from cold to hot I have a still air incubator with the knob to increase and decrease the heat

So you are saying they never hatch for you? If interested, "WE" might could help you on the Incubator forum to have better luck with your hatches. Post there and ask questions, you will get some help.

 

[emmie325]

Ok thanks I will

 

[nchls school]

What if they were jumbo Browns

It has been quite a few years since I have had quail. So to answer, you need to compare the sizes of your bantam with the jumbo browns. In thinking about the possibility of a hen raising quail chicks, another possible problem is the drastic difference in growth rates. Most broody hens wean their chicks at 5-6 weeks. Cortunix are sexually mature, or close to, at that age. But I've had broody hens raise goslings. Might make an interesting experiment. If I had the eggs I'd give it a try with my serama.