It is chaos in chicken land and I am losing control!

[pkinville]

So this past summer, wife and I were sitting on the deck when we suddenly heard this cacaphony of chicken noises like nothing we had heard before. I track down the source and find a chicken that I thought was dead, and 14 babies... Crap. We free range our birds and this past summer we ended up with several mommies. Went from 22 chickens to just under 50. In every single case, the mother hen had run off somewhere and hidden outside the coop, then showed up with anywhere from 2-14 babies.

Well, its only December and one of them just did it again. I was certain that this one chicken had been eaten, only for her to show up under the clothes dryer vent with 12 babies. CRAP. Winter is no time for chicken babies. Anyway, I just discovered ANOTHER missing frizzle that is under a porch that I cant reach under and appears to be sitting on another nest.

Is anybody else having this happen? Spring is when we usually get babies, not the start of winter.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I've had birds go broody in winter. Usually they give up but sometimes not. The only one I'd worry can't keep them warm is the frizzle

 

[OzarkChooks]

Yesterday, I found my Australorp's hidden nest of 12 eggs. I also have another hen who is broody. No idea why they are doing this in winter!

 

[Poodlemum]

Our neighbourhood duck laid another massive nest this past month, but non were viable when I candled. Which is good since I was worried! It snowed a bunch finally and she left them

 

[aart]

Is anybody else having this happen?

No...
... but I keep my birds confined and break broodiness when I can't fit more chicks.

Spring is when we usually get babies, not the start of winter.

Have had them go broody at any time of the year.