hatching in winter

[Chookcrazy]

One of my silkies has become broody and is sitting on 9 eggs, but it's the middle of winter.
Do chicks hatch in winter and what is the usual hatch rate?
I only live in Australia so it doesn't get terribly cold here and there is no snow, but it does get below 10 degrees sometimes with heaps of rain.
Has anyone got any advice for what i should do and how, if the chicks do actually hatch, to keep them warm and dry.

 

[sumi]

We live in S.A. and I found our winter hatch rates are actually higher than in summer. That could be because the summer temperatures in our area is often extremely high. The hens have no problem keeping the babies warm outside. We just bring them in if it's pouring with rain, which doesn't happen too often.

 

[mulia24]

I would suggest you to move the nestbox together with the hen and eggs at night to a better place like room and provide it with a heater, simple cheap heater will do, make sure to check the safety of heater electricity like cable or plug to make sure no accident could happen.

I believe they will hatch as long as the eggs are fertile and the hen doing her job well. good luck.

 

[JimnTer]

Chookcrazy, thats +10 degrees C right, not Farenheit? The temperature won't be a problem, just keep them out of the rain. I had a bantam Rhode Island Red go broody near the end of January which is winter up here in Canada. We had -23 degrees C (-30 something with the windchill) for several days in a row while she was setting. She sat on and hatched 6 eggs.

 

[mstricer]

I wouldn't put any heat on her. She has an internal heater, and should be fine, like others said keep her out of the rain. Hope you have a good hatch.