Two weeks ago the quail eggs in the small incubator hatched.It was supposed to be my last hatch of the year and in a way it was as the incubators have been switched off and the breeding pens have been broken up for the winter.However since then two hens have gone broody, the frizzle Pekin and the Goldtop, Both have raised a brood already this year but I know from experience even if I manage to 'break' them this time, in a couple of weeks they will be broody again.So last night I set the Pekin on eleven Guinea Fowl eggs To be honest I'm not expecting great results, the eggs are from the lad next door, his birds are quite young and I haven't seen the male Guinea Fowl treading the hens but we have nothing to loose.
Guinea Fowl are new to me, I've not kept them before but earlier this year I was given some fertile eggs. They were from a mix flock of Guineas or Gleanies as they are referred to locally who were free to range on a small holding.
I split the eggs between the incubator and a broody hen, fertility was low but hatch rate was 100% and I ended up with thirteen keets. I managed to foster all the keets onto the hen and she has done an amazing job rearing them.
I love them, completely taken with them.They are so different to chicks, they move en masse, always together as a group, what one does they all do and they grow so fast, almost as quick as quail.
For now they are in an ark and run with the hen but this weekend I plan to let them free range the nursery pen. We intend to keep some of the keets as a future breeding flock.
What to do with the broody Goldtop, I haven't yet decided.
I have posted several short video clips of the Guinea Fowl keets on my youtube channel
Guinea Fowl are new to me, I've not kept them before but earlier this year I was given some fertile eggs. They were from a mix flock of Guineas or Gleanies as they are referred to locally who were free to range on a small holding.
I split the eggs between the incubator and a broody hen, fertility was low but hatch rate was 100% and I ended up with thirteen keets. I managed to foster all the keets onto the hen and she has done an amazing job rearing them.
I love them, completely taken with them.They are so different to chicks, they move en masse, always together as a group, what one does they all do and they grow so fast, almost as quick as quail.
For now they are in an ark and run with the hen but this weekend I plan to let them free range the nursery pen. We intend to keep some of the keets as a future breeding flock.
What to do with the broody Goldtop, I haven't yet decided.
I have posted several short video clips of the Guinea Fowl keets on my youtube channel
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