My Daphne has gone broody

[WickedChicksNH]

Daphane is my polish, she less than a year old, but she has seemed of gone broody.
Shes been sitting in her nesting box the past few days
And making the broody sound as I call it when you pat her

Her eggs are more than likely fertile
But its dec and cold out, will she be fine hatching in such cold weather?

 

[AllenK RGV]

I would say so. Provided they can take advantage of the food, water and dry shelter you provide and mama keeps them warm as needed. I do not see an issue.

 

[WickedChicksNH]

I would say so. Provided they can take advantage of the food, water and dry shelter you provide and mama keeps them warm as needed. I do not see an issue.

Thank you, shes in a nesting box under a table I have in the coop where none of the others really seem to go
Maybe i will block off that area and make it all cozy for her

 

[AllenK RGV]

In my case I would modify her environment very little. She will be leaving her eggs at least once daily to feed, drop a dog sized pile of poop, dust bathe and drink water before resuming her duties. A broody can usually keep her own nesting area free of unwanted visitors.

Lift her though and mark those eggs as she has probably set up in everyones favorite layer box and she will probably allow them to add to her clutch.

My broody is due to hatch out Dec 19 and 20 I was slow on marking eggs.

At about the 14 day mark candle those eggs and toss out the clear ones so they do not blast and soil your good eggs.

My broody solo brooded the first 7 days and now 2 more silkies have joined her. Probably not the best scenario but everyone is peaceful about it.

 

[WickedChicksNH]

In my case I would modify her environment very little. She will be leaving her eggs at least once daily to feed, drop a dog sized pile of poop, dust bathe and drink water before resuming her duties. A broody can usually keep her own nesting area free of unwanted visitors.

Lift her though and mark those eggs as she has probably set up in everyones favorite layer box and she will probably allow them to add to her clutch.

My broody is due to hatch out Dec 19 and 20 I was slow on marking eggs.

At about the 14 day mark candle those eggs and toss out the clear ones so they do not blast and soil your good eggs.

My broody solo brooded the first 7 days and now 2 more silkies have joined her. Probably not the best scenario but everyone is peaceful about it.

Thank you, I usually incubate the eggs,
I don't know if this will go smoothly because this morning she was sitting on 3 eggs closer to the opening of the nesting box (it's a rubbermaid plastic tub I cut a hole in for a door and the lid is on it)
When I went to close up the coop tonight she was sitting on different eggs further toward the back

So we will see,
My last hen that went broody did it for over a month in 90+ degree weather on non fertile eggs

 

[BDutch]

It would not be my choice to let her breed in winter if you have freezing temperatures in January and February.

• It is more difficult to hatch successfully. You need at least a good isolated bottom underneath (layer of sand and straw) and a bit of luck. No cold wind? Did you mark the eggs? Not more then 5 or 6?
  
• When the chicks grow up an accident with cold can happen easily. If the mother hen leaves the chicks With 6-8 weeks it is still quit cold and it is not an easy time of the year to grow up from chick to pullet/cockerel.

I would brake her broodiness and wait until March or April to let her breed. Also because it is nice to be outside with the chicks in spring. But of course this is a personal choice.

 

[aart]

I would not let her hatch this time of year in your climate.
BTDT...it worked out, but would not do it again.
Do you know how to break a broody?

 

[WickedChicksNH]

It would not be my choice to let her breed in winter if you have freezing temperatures in January and February.

• It is more difficult to hatch successfully. You need at least a good isolated bottom underneath (layer of sand and straw) and a bit of luck. No cold wind? Did you mark the eggs? Not more then 5 or 6?
  
• When the chicks grow up an accident with cold can happen easily. If the mother hen leaves the chicks With 6-8 weeks it is still quit cold and it is not an easy time of the year to grow up from chick to pullet/cockerel.

I would brake her broodiness and wait until March or April to let her breed. Also because it is nice to be outside with the chicks in spring. But of course this is a personal choice.

Thank you, I don't think any eggs will actually make it to hatch. Which I am glad about. I picked her up today to put her in a better area, more comfy and up off the floor, when I picked her up 3 eggs were stuck to her belly.. the other 3 were warm but she wasn't sitting on them at the time.
So for now I will just let her do her thing.

 

[wleigh1021]

I let my broody hatch last week of Oct and it was actually colder then. Most of her eggs didn't make it since she wouldn't let me separate her. Towards the end I figured out to put a nesting box liner/pad underneath her for padding and warmth. She hatched one chick and I ordered her 6 more. They are all doing great now. The only other concern about letting them hatch in winter is if they're also molting its very hard on their bodies to do both at the same time.

 

[Jac Jac]

Thank you, shes in a nesting box under a table I have in the coop where none of the others really seem to go
Maybe i will block off that area and make it all cozy for her

Sounds wonderful and Congrats in advance.