Broody in Michigan Winter?

[aart]

Quote: She won't...she knows better than we when it's time to get off the nest.
Remember that a chick has about 3 days worth of nutrients after hatching.
You can remove the broody poops from the cage, I removed them everyday they were there.

 

[wcbpolish]

She won't...she knows better than we when it's time to get off the nest.
Remember that a chick has about 3 days worth of nutrients after hatching.
You can remove the broody poops from the cage, I removed them everyday they were there.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[kubotafoot]

Did I read your post correctly? You haven't cleaned the HUGE poops since she went broody? OMG What a mess! Get them out of there daily! She's there to hatch eggs, not fill a cage with a mess. If you keep her cooped up (pun intended) it's up to you to keep her clean and healthy, and daily upkeep of the cage is your business, please. She'll thank you for it.

 

[LateBirdFarms]

Just pushing this one back into the "must reads" for anyone thinking of letting that broody sit a clutch coming into the winter!
Read it over twice myself in the last two weeks! So glad you documented the whole experience
@aart !

 

[Noy]

@aart, thank you for documenting your winter broody adventure!
I'm very torn about incubating and raising babies this winter... though I'm in much milder central Virginia! Doesn't really get below the upper teens F and most nights it's in the upper 20s, or more, with most days at least above freezing. And we get very little snow!
Plus my chicks will have a heat plate.
So... it's very tempting... and they'll probably be fiiiiine......

 

[aart]

my chicks will have a heat plate.
So... it's very tempting

If you have a broody hen you won't need a heat plate.

 

[Noy]

If you have a broody hen you won't need a heat plate.

I wish! None are currently broody.
Only had two broodies this year and none successfully hatched (too many hens and roosters, and I did not separate the broody out to set). Incubator and heat plate it is!

 

[aart]

I wish! None are currently broody.
Only had two broodies this year and none successfully hatched (too many hens and roosters, and I did not separate the broody out to set). Incubator and heat plate it is!

I would hesitate to put chicks out in the cold, heat plate or not.
This thread is about a broody hen with chicks.