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Using bantams to hatch guinea fowl eggs?

Discussion in 'Incubating & Hatching Eggs' started by rhodesfarm, May 18, 2011.

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  1. May 18, 2011 #1
    rhodesfarm

    rhodesfarm Out Of The Brooder

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    May 16, 2011
    I have read that a broody Bantam hen will do a good job in hatching guinea eggs. My guineas lay eggs all around our farm and I would like to find a way to hatch these. Has anyone used bantams to do the job? If so, how does one go about doing it? Do you need a rooster in order for a hen to go broody? Apologies for the naive questions, we are new at this!
     
  3. May 18, 2011 #2
    L.L Farm

    L.L Farm Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I haven't heard of needing a rooster to go broody, but the hens like to go broody when it is warm, its just something in them , and they go broody when they think the times right. Any chicken can hatch guinea, peafowl, etc. Make sure you don't put to many eggs under the bantam, as they are not that big and the eggs need to all be able to be incubated by the momma. Is your bantam already broody or are you trying to get her broody?
     
  5. May 18, 2011 #3
    riftnreef

    riftnreef Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Mechanicsburg, Ohio
    No, a roo is not needed for hens to go broody...that being said, you can't just put a chicken on a clutch of eggs and expect her to instantly be in the mood to brood (ha...I made a funny). Anyway, when a hen is already broody...i.e. sitting on anything and everything they can, then you can slip some fertile eggs under them. One of the best ways to encourage broodiness in hens that are not already broody is to forget to collect eggs for a day or three. That seems to usually do the trick in breeds that have broody tendancies. Other than that, I don't know of a way to flip a switch for that instinct. As stated in the last post, there is only so much room under a bantam hen, so keep that in mind. I have two super broody Buckeyes right now if you want to put them to good use...LOL

    ETA: By the way.......[​IMG]
     
    Last edited: May 18, 2011
  7. May 19, 2011 #4
    rhodesfarm

    rhodesfarm Out Of The Brooder

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    May 16, 2011
    Hi:
    No we don't even have the bantams yet- picking them up this weekend. But, our guineas are always leaving eggs around so I am trying to gather information to be prepared. The bantams are a few months old so no idea when they will be mature enough to go broody. But, am hoping to let nature incubate rather than my incubator when the time comes!

    Thanks much for the advice.

    riftnreef- would love to take advantage of the Buckeyes, but it would be a long trip from MA to Ohio! [​IMG]
     
  9. May 19, 2011 #5
    Smith farm

    Smith farm Chillin' With My Peeps

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    [​IMG] If the bantys are only a few months old they more than likely are not mature enough to go broody. In my experience the hens need to at least be laying in order to go broody. If I were you I would ask the person you are getting them from if they have any mature girls and if you could buy a couple of them along with the pullets you are getting. As already stated above the hens tend to go broody during the summer months. Hope this helps any
     
  11. May 19, 2011 #6
    rhodesfarm

    rhodesfarm Out Of The Brooder

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    May 16, 2011
    Good idea- I will ask about mature hens. Not sure how they will do with the mature guineas in the coop though...I was figuring that younger birds would have an easier time of integrating into the flock. Any idea of when bantams are mature enough to start laying?
     
  13. May 19, 2011 #7
    huckleberryfarm

    huckleberryfarm Chickenista

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    I actually have two silkie hens sitting on guinea eggs right now! Two have hatched and she's doing a good job being their mom. Unfortunately she left the rest of the eggs to go show them around the coop and run. I had a spare broody silkie and just stuck her on the rest of the eggs. Everyone seems very happy at the moment!
     

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