Broody Hen on eggs in snow 🤦‍♀️

[JTsfunnyfarm]

Hello,

I have a hen that was MIA. We found her proudly sitting on a clutch of 20+ eggs in my basement window well. She had been sitting for quite a few days when we found her but we have now experienced a massive temperature swing. 16c to -2c and she still insists that she’s hatching the eggs. The area is pretty sheltered (it’s a window well to start with). What is the viability of her eggs? I really don’t know what to do about her. She’s NOT happy if I go anywhere near the window well. Just curious if anyone’s hens have successfully hatched their eggs in these type of temps.

 

[JTsfunnyfarm]

Well. You’re never going to believe this. So far the gals have hatched two in the window well. More on the way. The two cold eggs I put in the incubator…. Went to check them today when I got home and the first one I candled had internally pipped. Fricken WILD. I’m going to them hatch the rest and then we are going to relocate everyone into an enclosed coop within our enclosed chicken run as there are cats wandering!

These eggs are hatching after surviving in:
- -10c/14F to 10C/50F
- hail, rain, snow, sleet
- very minimal nesting material
- No ‘cover’ for the first initial weeks.
- very high winds (50km/31mph sustained winds 110km/68mph gusts)

I’ve put some medicated chick starter and some water in a tiny dish on the opposite side of the window well. I don’t have extra feeders or waterers (to Peavey mart I go in the morning!). Totally wild that these guys are hatching! I will do one final update with total numbers!!!

 

[JTsfunnyfarm]

I've had a broody hatch in cold temps, tho she did have a straw nest and was completely protected from snow.

I would really love to give her straw but my hubby is threatening divorce over straw in the window well. She is totally protected from wind/snow. The house overhang goes right over where she’s choosing to nest. I -have- been ‘sneaking’ her food and some ‘natural’ nesting materials that hubby hopefully won’t notice

 

[notabitail]

I would really love to give her straw but my hubby is threatening divorce over straw in the window well. She is totally protected from wind/snow. The house overhang goes right over where she’s choosing to nest. I -have- been ‘sneaking’ her food and some ‘natural’ nesting materials that hubby hopefully won’t notice

I've heard that chickens prefer dirt because it's easier to move their eggs around. Maybe put a cover over the nest or something.

 

[JTsfunnyfarm]

So. As an update- apparently she invited her sister in and they have been sharing the original eggs we decided to candle today for the first time….. 3 of the 20+ eggs are internally pipped. Once we checked those 3 we decided to leave them alone at this point. The eggs are tiny and the resulting soon to be window well babies are the result of my showgirl roo and the ‘moms’ are polish x showgirl…. They have incubated through an entire week of -9c to 2c. We are currently hovering around 6c. Will do a final update once they hatch.

 

[sourland]

She may very well be successful. Good luck.

 

[aart]

I've had a broody hatch in cold temps, tho she did have a straw nest and was completely protected from snow.

 

[Canadian Wind]

At least she picked a sheltered place. Yeah, those nice temps we had for the last few weeks have come back to bite us. My own birds are all confused.

I'm figuring you're probably not that far away from me!

 

[rural mouse]

Covering that many eggs is potentially a problem, but then again, maybe not. @RebeccaBoyd has a hen who incubated eggs out on a hillside in December with a nasty cold snap happening shortly after she started setting. Eggs hatched in early January.

 

[Australorpfamily]

Hello,

I have a hen that was MIA. We found her proudly sitting on a clutch of 20+ eggs in my basement window well. She had been sitting for quite a few days when we found her but we have now experienced a massive temperature swing. 16c to -2c and she still insists that she’s hatching the eggs. The area is pretty sheltered (it’s a window well to start with). What is the viability of her eggs? I really don’t know what to do about her. She’s NOT happy if I go anywhere near the window well. Just curious if anyone’s hens have successfully hatched their eggs in these type of temps. View attachment 3776349

Granted our broody was in a covered pen that held nest boxes but she hatched a brood out this past December and then one in Feb/March, (luckily after the artic blast), so 20-40F. It wasn't warm in pen but mainly blocked wind. Still had the water buckets freezing lol

If you have a large enough board you could cover her like a lean-to ?