PuddleEndChicken
Chirping
I've hatched out 2 guinea fowl keets in the incubator (rest didn't make it due to power cut, long story). They are 2 days old.
I've got a broody Pekin bantam (she's been broody for about a week).
So last night I put the 2 keets and about 3 of the unhatched eggs (just in case) under the bantam.
This morning the keets are still alive so she has let them be under her all night and kept them warm and didn't reject them.
The keets are running around and feeding and then going back under her but she still seems to be very broody. When I've hatched clutches under a hen normally the hen gets up and shows the chicks what to do etc. But due to the "adoption" she is just sitting still in a daze and I think she's still broody.
So the keets are going under her and then coming out to eat and then going under her again but she's just not reacting. I took away the other eggs in case she was waiting for more to hatch but she's still sitting there. Not rejecting or attacking the keets but also not really doing anything, although I have seen her clucking at them a bit.
Should I carry on and hope that she will eventually stop being broody or are they at risk and should I put them back in the brooder ?
I want to keep her with them if I can because a friend said in her experience that guinea fowl will only grow up "civilised" and knowing how to behave if brought up with a mother rather than in the brooder (not sure how true that is !!!!) plus it's easier under the hen if possible.
Any advice ?
Many thanks
I've got a broody Pekin bantam (she's been broody for about a week).
So last night I put the 2 keets and about 3 of the unhatched eggs (just in case) under the bantam.
This morning the keets are still alive so she has let them be under her all night and kept them warm and didn't reject them.
The keets are running around and feeding and then going back under her but she still seems to be very broody. When I've hatched clutches under a hen normally the hen gets up and shows the chicks what to do etc. But due to the "adoption" she is just sitting still in a daze and I think she's still broody.
So the keets are going under her and then coming out to eat and then going under her again but she's just not reacting. I took away the other eggs in case she was waiting for more to hatch but she's still sitting there. Not rejecting or attacking the keets but also not really doing anything, although I have seen her clucking at them a bit.
Should I carry on and hope that she will eventually stop being broody or are they at risk and should I put them back in the brooder ?
I want to keep her with them if I can because a friend said in her experience that guinea fowl will only grow up "civilised" and knowing how to behave if brought up with a mother rather than in the brooder (not sure how true that is !!!!) plus it's easier under the hen if possible.
Any advice ?
Many thanks
