Egg hatching season

[alangton]

I live in Oakland CA and the weather is pretty average! We usually have a late summer and the night doesn't get too cold until like December-February! Do I really have to wait until spring to hatch eggs? We have gotten two chicks locally, but I really want to hatch from eggs for the rest of our flock!

Thanks,
Ashley

 

[BantamLover21]

You can hatch chicks anytime your hens are laying and your roosters are fertile. A lot of people hatch in spring because that is the natural time for a hen. If you use an incubator, though, you can do it anytime--I personally hatch in January, since I show chickens and want the oldest birds possible for showing later in the year. Just make sure you keep the chicks that hatch warm enough.

If you want to use a broody hen, your choices are more limited. Some hens do try to nest in the winter, but they have a tough time keeping the chicks and eggs warm. Summer and spring are better choices for broody hen hatching.

 

[alangton]

We are using an incubator. The two chicks we have already we have kept in our spare bathroom with a light! We will do the same with the hatched chicks!