[jinty1911]

Just been looking on an auction site and saw hatching eggs for sale.  Question - is this not the wrong time of year to be hatching chicks? How can they survive the winter weather? Take it who ever buys/hatches them must keep them inside until spring? Soz if these are stupid questions but kind of dont get it.   
Jinty

[tesni]

at this time of year fertility may be lower but if you have a broody and somewhere suitable for her and the eggs/chicks, or a brooder and somewhere suitable with heat for the chicks  then you could give it a go - i have read on different threads of people having success.  but  BRRRR spring may be better!

[orchardlady]

I once had a hen that disappeared , I assumed Mr. Fox, she reappeared with 4 little chicks! She must have found a really good hiding place because I never did find the nest with the empty shells. This was all done at the end of November a few years ago. I herded her into a broody coop and run and treated her just the same as I would a normal broody but made sure the coop had extra weather protection and she had plenty to eat. She was an excellent mother and kept her babies warm and they thrived. So the answer is yes you can hatch eggs in the winter but I should qualify it by saying it's hard work for a broody. Of course if you are doing it all in an incubator it's all down to you. Once the chicks are off heat you could put hem outside but would have to take great pains to keep them warm enough. I personally would not bother. Leave it until the warmer months..much less work frankly.

[jinty1911]

Have 2 out of 3 broody at moment but think it a bit cold up here at moment to even think about it unless I keep them in kitchen not 
Jinty

[jinty1911]

Anyway, am thinking wee chicks about Easter. Just hope the broody ones oblige when I want them to (taking bets they dont).  I have 5 young granddaughters ( 1 - 5 yrs) n cant wait to see their faces seeing Nanas baby chicks then     
Jinty

[Chookiechook]

I hatch all through the winter but have to keep the birds protected from the cold..... its more expensive than in the summer but at least I have the birds for sale in the spring when people want nice young hens

[stan deakin]

its a good point but show people start hatching in january or february which i think must be the coldest months

stan

[Biguba]

It's up to you if you want to nurture hens. thru winter...they'll do fine

[death of rats]

Got some young silkies under heat in the kitchen because it was getting too cold out in the run and coop.
They will stay indoors until they are properly sized and feathered up.
Just need an understanding OH

[juliec]

sorry if you get a message twice but I seemed to loose the last one.

Any way how do you know youe girls are broody and sorry to mention S*X (but does this mean amarous) as a not yet got chooks (but talking to grannie Annie member Im curious.

what do Broody chooks do so you know and what do you do if you dont have a cockrel.


nosey chicken interested Jools

[GrannieAnnie]

Hi Jools, me again!  Hens go broody when they get the urge to have babies!  They will sometimes find a nice egg to sit on and often don't like the other hens getting too close at this time.  they will also nick any other eggs laid by the other girls.  Sometimes you will find hens that like to sit together with the broody.

She will often growl at you when you get near to her and fluff up her feathers.  She can look quite angry!  Our 2 white silkies are nearly always broody, which also means they don't lay me any eggs very often!

They don't need cockerels to go broody or to lay eggs.  You only need a cockerel if you want to get fertile eggs, or if you like annoying your neighbours!!! lol

[hillfooter]

Anyway, am thinking wee chicks about Easter. Just hope the broody ones oblige when I want them to (taking bets they dont).  I have 5 young granddaughters ( 1 - 5 yrs) n cant wait to see their faces seeing Nanas baby chicks then      
Jinty

You can encourage your broodies to sit by leaving several pot eggs (or you can use golf balls but they need to be Top Flites ) in a clutch at the the time you want them to go broody.  Personally unless there's a compelling reason to want chicks in the winter months I'd leave it until late Feb early March then when they are fully feathered and ready to be put out at 5 weeks or so the warmer weather will have hopefully arrived,   You owe it to them to give them the best start.
HF

[jinty1911]

Think it far too cold and too much hassle for hatching chicks in winter.  Going to wait till spring.  The girlie (Grace) that went broody 1st seems to be coming out of it a bit. Gladys is still broody and now Cilla has decided to have a go.  No eggs for 3 days now.  Och well they are so sweet we're not bothered.
Jinty