Hatching in Winter?

[Garrisonkidsduo2]

I have some of my own chicken eggs in the bator and they are due on the 1st and 2nd. Well I have eggs due almost everyday in the month of December so far. I know that you are not suppose to open the bator unless you have to but I hand turn my eggs because I don't have the money for a turner. I just mark the date on my eggs and keep them in order on what hatches what day. My chickens are a cross between a buff orpington rooster and my hens which are Road Island Red, Dominique, buff orpington, black ausolorps. I can't wait to see my new bundles of cheeps comes out. Will post pictures.

 

[Jay262]

I wouldnt be worried we have been having snow since the first week of october up north here and i put 4 week old chicks outside last week with a heatlamp there fine just make sure your coop has no drafts. Im also planing on another hatch this year aslong as you have a draft proof coop you should be fine.

 

[Garrisonkidsduo2]

I have a nice size house and some cages and a brooder in the house so until they are full I am going to keep them in the house, then if I need more room I will put the older ones outside. I have had chicken when I was younger but the first time on my own. I am new to hatching on my own, my grandmother hatch when I was little. I was born and raised in Michigan but now I live in Northern Arkansas, right now it is chilly out but nice we got snow last night but it was gone as of 2 hours ago. Thanks for the idea though I may do that instead of keeping them in the house.

 

[kristip]

This was not my particular ideal time of year for a broody, but you cant pick them. I had a young BO that was determined to sit... she was there a month trying to hatch non fertile eggs before I gave her some. 1 hatched last week and she is sitting on 4 more- we decided to move her to the basement because our coop outside is not huge and we wanted a warm and non drafty spot for our babies. Here is my question- We want momma to stay with the babies for a while, but once they start getting bigger... we wont have alot of space in our basement if all hatch ( 5 babes and big momma) so would move momma out. Will everyone adapt ok to this? currently when we take baby chick out to love on her a little, momma and chick both get progressively noisy. Will they adapt to being away from each other? becuase our hope is that babies will be inside for 12 weeks or so. Want them to be big enough and closer to March1 before they go out. Temps will be back at 30-40s at night then.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
That will be a nice assortment. With a Buff Orp father:

RIR will give you reddish chipmunk chicks that should grow up kind of red-orangish. Adults will probably have some black pattern feathers, especially on the tails. The roosters especially may be gorgeous.

Dominique will give you black sex links. The chicks will be black. The chicks with a spot on their head will be males and will grow up barred. The solid black chicks will be female but are likely to have some reddish maybe golden leakage, especially around the neck. The males may have this leakage too.

Buff Orps will give you Buff Orps.

Australorps will give you solid black chicks. You might get some gold leakage in the adult plumage. My pullets did not but the roosters did when I crossed a Speckled Sussex with an Australorp hen. But you will not be able to tell the chicks apart from the females from the Dominiques.

This is what I mean by leakage in my SS/BA males. I would not be surprised if you see the same thing.

 

[chickenobsessed]

will a hen take care of her chicks in winter every the the snow and will she keep them warm so they will survive.

Thanks

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[Egg Crate]

will a hen take care of her chicks in winter every the the snow and will she keep them warm so they will survive.

Thanks

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Hatched today. 5 more on the way. I'd say that's a resounding YES! Phylis the Frizzle went broodie around thanksgiving. I finally gave in and let her keep 6 eggs to hatch end of last month. She managed in the unheated area of the coop until I saw the little peep chipping out of its shell. I moved the whole family into the basement this afternoon. Chick #2 hatched about an hour ago. I do have a heat lamp (turned it on to take the photos) but I don't want to roast Phylis just to keep the chicks warm. They're doing fine without the lamp. See the little beak sticking out from under her wing. After the chicks are all hatched I'll move her out to the coop again and turn the lamp on for the chicks. . This is the second batch Phylis has hatched - none of the eggs were hers. She's just one super-broody frizzle.

 

[chickenobsessed]

They are so cute and thanks!!! i have on that is broody but i get the eggs out i'll wait until spring to hatch so she has not been sitting on any. i cant wait until spring to watch my chickens hatch chicks!!!

 

[Egg Crate]

Piggy Back

 

[chickenobsessed]

how cute!!!!!!!!!!