Is it too cold for a hen to hatch out eggs

[bellschick]

I was wondering if u have ever had frozen eggs and could u eat them after they thaw?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They're ok to eat but often crack. So if they freeze I keep them in the freezer until I'm ready to use them.

 

[Alaskan]

They're ok to eat but often crack. So if they freeze I keep them in the freezer until I'm ready to use them.

X2

If they cracked wide open, I wash them well before I use them.

 

[bellschick]

 

[bellschick]

U mean your summer is 25 degrees and under?

 

[bellschick]

that was for alaskan

 

[ken-t]

when I was in Montana we had a hen come off the nest in January. it was rough for the little ones but we put them in a box-stall and put heat in it for them after that all went well. even that cool watch them and decide if you want to do something like that. As long as mommy sets on them and gets them warm when needs be they should be ok. good luck

 

[Alaskan]

U mean your summer is 25 degrees and under?

Nope. I was responding to the poster who said their temps were down to 49F.


My summer temps are in the forties, and fifties. We usually only have a week or three of 60F days. That is day time temps. But we don't get lots colder at night.

 

[cocopop]

I worried about this too. If it makes you feel better, here in Kentucky we've had a cold snap...28° & 29° lows for the last week. I have my first broody hen hatching eggs today, even taking them out of the box and showing them how to eat mealworms from my hand. The chicks followed her lead and after a few minutes outside, cuddled under her for a little, until she called them back to the box. Tonight, out of 7 eggs, 3 have hatched fine, one didn't make it through a very tough membrane, and she is still sitting on 3 eggs. Good luck with yoUr hatch!

Thanks, I hope your chicks make it through the cold. My friend's hen hatched only one egg yesterday and it died today. It was sad because his hen is a first time mom and her one and only chick died. This is the day it rained but I don't know if that was the cause, but I know it didn't help. Now the poor hen is looking for her babies. I still have 12 more days under the broody hen and I put three of her eggs in the incubator. One of the eggs is due in 4 days. I am still going to put a heating lamp in her pen.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If you do use a heat lamp, I would hang it over the food and water rather than over her nest. She doesn't need it and neither do the chicks when they're under her. It will encourage them to eat and drink when not in the nest though. That would be if the temps were below the mid 40s.