Using a Broody hen to hatch Quail or Chukar

[thegreatfandango]

Interested in adding some gamebirds to my small scale poultry project. Anyone had any experience using a broody hen (Mines a silkie) to hatch Quail or Chukar eggs? Also any tips after hatch? (since Quail and Chukar need higher protein feed and drown practically by looking at water.)

 

[aprophet]

As they hatch you will probably lose most of the chukars they are really fast at birth quail are slightly slower depending on species

 

[jvls1942]

If your hen is broody, she will sit on anything round..

I would have some sort of enclosure around the hen at hatching time.. quail are like a hand grenade going off.. no two will go in the same direction and they all will run away from the nest.. and they can hide under a bottle cap.. I never had a problem with quail and water... you just have to take the same precautions as you do with any baby chicken or bird..