Egg temps under hen

[legojenn]

I have broody hen and put four fertilised eggs under her. I don't really want chicks, but we're still getting below zero (32f) temps at night and don't want to try to break her broodiness in these temps. When I pull the unfertilised eggs out, sometimes the eggs are cool. Is that a problem?

Hens do need to eat, so she needs to get off her eggs. Is she at risk of non-viable eggs? I don't want to be in a position where I have to break her broodiness anyhow after she sat on these eggs for week or two.

Jenn

 

[nchls school]

Many of my hens brood and hatch chicks in the winter; raise them too-even when temperatures are well below 32F