Can you hatch eggs under a hen so late in the year?

[boogburr37]

I have a old english game bantam hen and im pretty sure shes gone broody because when i let my flock out im always missing a hen,and when i go looking for her, shes always laying on eggs in her nesting box and gets quite mad when i try to get them from her. Im also 100% sure the eggs are fertile. So today i decided i would leave the eggs and mark them to see if they would hatch. My dad says they wont hatch under a hen because its so late in the year, but i wanted to be for sure.. So.. Will they hatch?

 

[Bunnylady]

If they are fertile, and she stays on them for 19 or so days (my bantam breed eggs seem to hatch in 19-20 days), they sure can hatch.

I had a Serama go broody in January. She was in a pen in an unheated workshop. The eggs hatched during a very cold snap. I went out one morning, and found her off the nest. There were three chicks in the nest, and two pipped eggs that were cold and silent. The chicks were so cold they were getting sluggish. I rushed them all into the incubator. Two of the chicks revived, one didn't.

Both of the eggs warmed up and hatched later in the day. I was afraid to leave such tiny chicks at the mercy of the outside temperatures, even with their mother, so she and they became house guests (in a large tote) for the next few weeks.

 

[Three Silkies]

Sure. My hen hatched six chicks six weeks ago and they are all fine. It was winter here (though I live in Australia, so winter is not as cold as it is in other parts of the globe - cant see where you're from). I left my baby chicks outside in the coop the whole time. Didn't use a heat lamp or anything. Mama hen kept them warm and raised them all strong and healthy. I think hatching baby chicks is one of the sweetest things on earth and I highly recommend it. I'm so happy with my little babies.