A Broody hen during the winter

[rigochickens]

I Live in upstate New York and I have a hen that has for the last few days been hiding the eggs, they all lay in the same nest and on is burying them under straw, I just want an opinion on should I just let her do this and see if she hatches them or is that a bad deal, it's not a cold winter 16 at night was the coldest it's gotten next 15 days hover around freezing. This is my fist time dealing with this issue thanks in advance.

 

[BoomChickaPop]

Hi you can let her hatch them if you want
She will keep them nice and warm no matter what the weather
I had a little bantam hen who just hatched 9 chicks when the temperature was cold at night.
The chicks are doing fine too.
It is all up to you if you want to let her sit
what kind of hen is she?

 

[rigochickens]

She is a Lohmann Brown

 

[rigochickens]

Thanks for the advice I will just let her hatch them out then, it's going to be close to 50 for the next week so I'm not super worried about it.

 

[BoomChickaPop]

Ok just monitor her and once she sits count the days to 21 and hopefully you will see baby chicks
If you see any problems just send me a private message
I have plenty of experience with broody hens

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

If your hen is still sitting in the favorite nest, I'd mark the eggs she's sitting on with a permanent marker so you can check for any new eggs that are added each day (and keep track of the hatching eggs). If she keeps accumulating eggs, eventually she wont be able to cover them all and the hatch will be ruined.

Best of luck

 

[BoomChickaPop]

If your hen is still sitting in the favorite nest, I'd mark the eggs she's sitting on with a permanent marker so you can check for any new eggs that are added each day (and keep track of the hatching eggs). If she keeps accumulating eggs, eventually she wont be able to cover them all and the hatch will be ruined.

Best of luck

That is very true
But I would mark them with a very dark crayon cause permanent markers are toxic!
But you could try a non toxic marker
rigochickens do you know how many hens are laying in your broody hens spot?

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Crayon, pencil and regular markers wont do, all of the markings will just rub off under the hen. I have been marking my eggs (both under hens and in my incubator) for years with a Sharpie.

 

[BoomChickaPop]

Crayon, pencil and regular markers wont do, all of the markings will just rub off under the hen. I have been marking my eggs (both under hens and in my incubator) for years with a Sharpie.

Yeah crayons do rubb off