Incubating Question For The Future

[ChickenGirl555]

If the fertilized eggs were being incubated by a broody hen in winter, would they survive through the cold? Because when she gets off the eggs to eat and drink, they will drastically cool down, will this kill the egg? How cold can they withstand? I want to incubate with a broody but the potential hen(s) won’t be mature enough until fall/winter.

 

[lazy gardener]

You may very well not get a broody at all, or perhaps only in the spring or summer.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

You may very well not get a broody at all, or perhaps only in the spring or summer.

But if I were to...
(the breed I'm going to breed and have be the broody mama is supposively ALWAYS going broody, and I will use their own eggs anyways so it's worth a shot.)

Will boys still mate with them in that time? I had a cockerel I recently got rid of and he was mating like crazy with my 6 gals I have now, and it's still like winter here.

 

[lazy gardener]

Personally, I'd wait till spring.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Personally, I'd wait till spring.

But is it possible? Or will it fail every time? Is it worth a shot? I have chick fever and I don't think I can wait that long!

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Still gotta raise the chicks that'll be your breeders, might cure you for a bit!

 

[ChickenGirl555]

I’m just really excited and have always wanted to go through the process of a Broody incubation and a broody raising chicks.

So there’s no hope? Not even a chance?

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I'm no help, only my older hens ever went broody but i don't think that's always the case. They had chicks in the winter occasionally but didn't raise many to adulthood iirc. It's adorable but they are very nervous around other birds and need peace and quiet. Hard enough to keep various groups thawed in the winter let alone segregating hens. This is my years ago experience, somewhat limited.

 

[oregonkat]

Your broody will know when she will be able to raise chicks safely. She is not likely to sit in the dead of winter, however spring cometh so perhaps your broody will oblige you. Patience, my friend, patience.....

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Well, I’ve heard of hens raising chicks/becoming broody in winter. So I’m really just asking if the eggs won’t die from drastic temperature changes when she gets off of them.

(The chickens would be mature enough around December or January. But it all depends on if we want them in June or July, so I’m not that sure if it’ll be that cold then. It’s just so unpredictable with this winter throwing me off guard.)