Broody hen in late winter

[sakerobot]

Is March too early to let a broody hen hatch some chicks?

The details: One of our Partridge Chantecler pullets went broody in late February, which we at first assumed would be too early. Now it's March 1st and she's being persistent. This is a Canadian breed that's known for cold hardiness, but would we be endangering chicks if we let her start?

We're in NH, zone 5B. Tonight and tomorrow it will be -1F at night, but it will get warmer by Tuesday with low 50s days and mid 20s nights. Our last frost date can be as late as mid May, although that's very unusual. We might get snow storms as late as April, though many days are warm and the snow usually melts to expose the ground.

For accommodation: We have a kennel inside the big coop which is 2x4 and contains a nesting box and can have a feeder and a waterer. The waterer would be removed for the night if it will freeze. The kennel is netted so that other chickens can't get into it, and it has a roof so that no presents can be dropped. The only trick will be to get her to accept the new box, but I can't have her in the current box as some hens will peck at her and others will double stack and lay eggs.


Egg fertility: we have 6 roosters.

Backup plan: if the hatching does not happen for some reason, there is a local store that gets chicks weekly that we can have her adopt. We had this happen last year and the hen raised 4 chicks into full adulthood (but that was in the summer).

This pullet is only about 9 months old.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I don't think you'll have any problems. It will be warmer by the time they hatch. If she sits tight on a nest with good nesting bedding, temperature shouldn't be a problem. The best thing you can do is not interfere. She doesn't need your participation in any way.

 

[Cloverfluff]

Mine went broody late November/early December. I let her sit some eggs and she hatched one. She kept it alive through a three day freeze, with temps 20 and below plus snow and icy rain. Just make sure she has plenty of shelter and maybe some corn/cinnamon with her food. They are still doing fine and the baby is pretty much ready to set out on their own.

 

[Yardmom]

Hens can hatch and raise chicks in any weather. The colder it is the harder it can be on the people providing a constant chick safe water. When in February did she go broody? If it has been setting less than 2 weeks she will likely sit through to hatch.
If she has already been sitting more than 2 weeks it might be best to buy her chicks. When you start getting past 5 weeks she may naturally break broodiness at any time.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

have you candled the eggs? I would let her sit if they’re developing.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

Good luck! I had a buff orpington go broody in Dec(Indiana here) and then again in February that same year. Chicks were good. She kept them nice and warm. We did give her a section with complete wind block, due to the time.

Ive even hatched chicks this past Nov and reared outside over winter and they are hardy.

Have fun!

Eta: on eggs, definitely candle what youve got there under her. Then mark them. I have a thread on our broody in winter and she moved herself from boxes to the area we set up on her own. They definitely know how to chicken. And she had just started laying like a month or so before she went broody.

I'm currently fighting a broody brahma lol