- Apr 13, 2009
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So I've been missing a hen for a few days, but no big deal, my flock seems to go up and down one every so often as one decides it's going to roost elsewhere. However, as I walked over to fill a water bucket tonight, with the incandescent bulb shining brightly where it's normally in shadow during the day, I spied the missing hen--sitting on a clutch of 5 or 6 eggs. I have no idea whether she's been setting for the whole time she's been gone, but it's only the end of February, for goodness sake, and it's sleeting outside as I write. Tomorrow morning I'll check to see if she's still on the eggs or whether this is a fluke.
Here's my question. Isn't it a bit early to have baby chicks hatching and survive well? I'm in midcoast Maine, and we have two more months of cold weather
(though it's been very mild for the past two weeks and we're even seeing some budding on the trees). I don't mind having broody hens, but I'd rather have them when the survival rates will be greater. In addition, I really want to put some Welsummer or Black Copper Marin eggs under the broody hen. Should I just remove the eggs and break the broodiness, and hope I'll have another broody hen later? Or should I quick get the eggs I want and stick them under her?
Here's my question. Isn't it a bit early to have baby chicks hatching and survive well? I'm in midcoast Maine, and we have two more months of cold weather