[suziequeue]

Whilst checking the fence of our pig enclosure prior to imminent piggie arrival, we disturbed a pheasie sitting on a couple of eggs. She flew off and - what with the pigs coming within hours and the uncertainty of whether the pheasant would return to the nest - we took the executive decision and popped the eggs under a broody hen.

We reckon the eggs are roughly the same age (maybe a little younger) as the ones the hen is currently sitting on.

Right or wrong - it's done now and the hen seems to have accepted them but..... Will they hatch? And will the hen look after them? Will the pheasant chicks tolerate chick crumb food and grit? And then - what to do with them when it comes to putting them back into the wood.......

Advice welcome please.

Many thanks

[Mel]

I would say yes they would be fine,I used my broody hens last year to hatch all my ducks,the only problems was the hens went beserk when their little ones jumped in the pond I would give them chick crumb-my ducklings were also raised on this with no problems at all.

Hope this helps!

[Sylvia]

She'll hatch them fine. When the time comes the call of the wild will take them away. Pheasant eggs were always hatched out under broody hens by gamekeepers.

[Mel]

She'll hatch them fine. When the time comes the call of the wild will take them away. Pheasant eggs were always hatched out under broody hens by gamekeepers.

Yes,they still do today,I have a gamekeeper friend whom always uses Bantams

[suziequeue]

Thankyou. That's very reassuring. So far today she is still on them :-)

I feel a bit guilty about taking the eggs but the pigs would have eaten them if we hadn't taken them.

[Big Light]

You will have to watch when the hatching occurs as if theres too big a time gap between hen / pheasant the hen will abandon the nest with whatever chicks have hatched

[suziequeue]

Yes - it's a isk we'll have to take. I think the pheasnt eggs might be later :-(

[doganjo]

The incubation period for pheasant eggs is 23-28 days, so a little longer than chicks, and the temperature 99.5 F but that's not a lot different.

[sam.t]

b4 we got our incubater we always used broody hens to hatch our pheasant eggs ;-) no problems at all with them
sam

[suziequeue]

We don't have an incubator. Any suggestions as to how we can get the pheasant eggs through the last few days if the hen decides to abandon the nest after the chicken eggs have hatched?

We do have a warm spot in the caravan where the standby heater is.

[sam.t]

you should prob try and make provisions for the eggs as pheasant eggs take on average 25 days to hatch and obviously chickens 21 so if they are slightly younger than yours she will not sit that much longer she will care for her babies :-)
sam

[suziequeue]

Yes - I agree Sam.t - hence my question.....  But I'm not forking out for an incubator for two pheasant eggs so any other ideas would be welcome

[sam.t]

do you have an airing cupboard i know it sounds wiered but someone on facebook site i go on has just hatched chicks in hers has her broody left the eggs
sam

[Fleecewife]

If another hen goes broody you could sneak the pheasant eggs out from the first broody and pop them, just them - no hen eggs, under the new broody.

[suziequeue]

Thanks for ll these useful tips. I am getting an idea of what I need to aim for.

My plan is - if it looks like the pheasant eggs need a while longer and the hen goes off with her chicks then I will see if another hen is broody. If no other broody hen then I will put them in the "airing cupboard" in the caravan.

I have seen lots of good advice on funkyfish's hatching problems thread so I have a fair idea of the conditions to aim for if I have to make a makeshift incubator. I am thinking - airtight container with the eggs on a wire mesh raised over a bed of dampened/wet shredded paper?