Hatching eggs in cold weather

[Jennifer Roberts]

Hi, I'm new to Backyard chickens and I was hoping someone could help me with this issue. 2 weeks ago one of my hens disappeared so I thought something had killed her but yesterday I looked out the window and there she was. I quickly learned that she had been in my rabbit hutch for those 2 weeks sitting on a clutch of 17 eggs. I don't know what to do, they should be hatching any day now and its cold right now. Please help. Thanks

 

[sdm111]

What's cold? Hens can keep their clutch of chicks alot warmer than one would think

 

[Jennifer Roberts]

I live in Quebec Canada and right now it can go as low as -8 celius

 

[Pensmaster]

Assuming the rabbit cage has a wire bottom chances are slim at 17 degrees Fahrenheit
Can you candle one of the the eggs for development?

 

[Jennifer Roberts]

Assuming the rabbit cage has a wire bottom chances are slim at 17 degrees Fahrenheit
Can you candle one of the the eggs for development?

Yes I did they seem to be all developing fine and they are not on a wire mesh but on a bed of straw.

 

[Pensmaster]

Yes I did they seem to be all developing fine and they are not on a wire mesh but on a bed of straw.

Good. At this point I’m not sure I’d mess with her set up. Is there a way to put a blanket over the top of hutch to help retain some heat? Unless it could get wet or startle her. You probably already have hutch protected from cold. Where I’m at things are very hot and my hutch when I had rabbits, were always in the shade as much as possible.

 

[Jennifer Roberts]

I do have a heavy tarp over the hutch to prevent drafts. I hope that's enough

 

[Pensmaster]

I do have a heavy tarp over the hutch to prevent drafts. I hope that's enough

It sounds like it is. I had exact opposite problem this summer. Temps were pushing 110 F hen was setting on wire bottom coop. Of the 10 eggs 2 survived.

 

[Jennifer Roberts]

Well I feel terrible for saying this but I hope that they don't all hatch because I don't know what I'll do with 17 chickens.

 

[Pensmaster]

That would be a lot of chickens.