Is there a "best season" for hatching eggs?

[Gindee77]

I've been thinking of getting an incubator and some hatching eggs, but I wonder if it's too late to do that. Is spring hatching the best?

It seems like I've read on here that many people hatch chicks in all types of weather and conditions.

I don't need any more chicks.

I'm not even sure I can keep the ones I already have here in town, but the lure to try it is just pulling harder and harder on me. Good grief, when does this addiction end??

 

[coopist]

Spring to early summer is the most natural time to hatch eggs. That's when hens usually go broody (based on the longer days), and the chicks can be brooded outdoors more easily because of the warmer weather. A lot of folks have broody or nearly broody hens right now. One benefit of hatching them now is that you can sell them to people more readily. Most people purchase chicks and/or adolescent birds in the spring and summer.

Of course, you can hatch eggs any time you like. I hatched some in January both this year and last. But I was prepared to brood them indoors and move them to a heated building for maturation.

 

[crawfish]

we hatch year round.our chickens lay 12 months but as it starts to get colder we change their food adding moer chops to their diet and as many fresh greens as we can get from a produce stand down the street.

 

[BamaChicken]

I like to hatch in the fall and winter here where I live as I seem to do better hatching when it is not to hot. Also helps me have the pullets up and laying by June.

 

[coopist]

Makes sense in the deep south. I think region has a lot to do with people's hatching timing, and rightly so. The OP is in Illinois, though.

 

[tazcat70]

I hatched in winter. They hatched on Christmas day. I didn't like it too much. However the hens are about to start laying and that is good, also heard something about that their 1st molt isn't as hard as others..or you get more eggs before they molt...or something like that. I am planning on trying again in late july or August...maybe Sept.

 

[tiki244]

I live in Wisconsin and will only hatch in the spring to early summer until I have a lot more experience. The babys can then be outside with lots of sun before they have to be locked up for the winter months

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Spring and Summer are the best time.