Is it right to incubate in the winter?

[vpeterson]

My understanding is that this is the time of year to hatch if you want to be showing them next fall. You want the pullets and cockerels to be as old as possible but still be under the one year age limit. The 4-h kids need chicks hatched after Jan. 1 (I could be wrong on this) so winter is a good time to hatch out for them.

 

[Denninmi]

I think a lot of the answer depends on geographic location and climate. I packed up my incubator in September, I wouldn't dream of setting any eggs again until probably the end of March next year at the earliest. But, I'm in Michigan. I'm sure that people in places like Georgia, Texas, Florida, S. California wouldn't have nearly the problems we would have here in the north. No doubt they still would have issues, but not the kind they would have someplace where there is snow, ice, and subfreezing to subzero temperatures for months on end.

 

[cubalaya]

oct 1st thru jan 30th we put the incubator away. its a good time of year to raise some pullets for the spring.

 

[speedy2020]

i have some hatched yesterday. The temperature around 95F inside the card board box. They are doing fine in the garage.

 

[ginbart]

First off,

I do it in the winter, there are a lot of us on here going to do some in December so we have new years day babies.

I keep them in the house in a play pen so when the grandchildren come over they hold them all winter long it makes for nice friendly chickens.

 

[Mahonri]

I do two hatches a year, usually New Years Day and then one the end of March of first part of April around Easter time.

Works great for us folks in warm states.

 

[Tala]

If I hatch NOW, I'll have fresh pullets coming into lay, while everyone else is starting out the spring with feedstore chicks.
I'll want spring chicks too, but I can have both

I've never had any trouble keeping them warm outside, but that's because I live in rather balmy Arkansas

I modified this XL doghouse kit from Lowes, and it keeps chicks nice and toasty in the winter with a lamp, and birds sit in it in the summer because it stays cool. I'm thinking I should build my next people-house around the same design!