Would a broody hen raise guinea chicks?

[fledgling]

Hi there!

I am just wondering in case I find a guinea nest after mine are free ranging on the farm. I have some Orpington and Barred Rocks hens in a nice laying suite in the coop and I intend to let them raise chicks periodically. Could I sneak guinea eggs under a broody hen? Would it work?

 

[rooster0209]

They sure will. Hens make much better momma's that guineas do

 

[DiVon80]

Yes! My neighbor a long time bird man always kept silkies/cochins just for their broodieness. These lil birds raised peacocks. Let her go for it. Good luck

 

[Debbienmousey]

Yes, hens can't count (Days anyway) so they'll never know they're hatching keets instead of chicks. We had a R.I.R. which hatched 2 keets on the 11th. She's doing a great job mothering them, and I believe they understand her well. (Chicken-guinea communication, lol)

But if you want the hen to hatch both chicks and keets (I've never done this but I assume it's just as easy) you'll need to start the guinea eggs 4-7 days earlier then the chicken eggs. (Technically 7 days earlier, but the keets from our last two incubator hatches have started pipping on their 25th day, and so did the keets under our R.I.R.)