I have a hen who's been sitting since November 20 in her chicken coop nest box. It's 25 degrees outside here in NJ. I've put a heating lamp inside, but do you think the chic's will hatch ? Right after the eggs hatches, I've made her a place in the garage "broody palace" for her and her babies with heated lamp on top.
If your eggs are fertile and viable, they will hatch. Have you candled the eggs? I have a broody who hatched chicks last week. Just two weeks before we were at -9 and -6 for two nights - she brooded in an unheated coop. Mom and chicks are doing great in an unheated brooder in a shed. When the chicks get cold, mom will warm them. You will be amazed at how much running around they do - without complaining about the "cold". I also have older chicks with their mothers - all in unheated areas. Plus another broody setting on eggs. Remember to give mom lots of food and fresh water. Also I offer sand/dirt/grit once the chicks hatch - that way you do not need to worry about what mom feeds the chicks. She will show the chicks the sand/dirt/grit and teach them what to pick out of it. She will also enjoy a sand/dust bath after brooding for so long. Enjoy - they should be hatching soon.
If they are fertile they will hatch. Chickens have been doing this in snow and ice for longer than we have been around to provide heat lamps....
Thank you guys for useful information but now, what happens to the ones that don't hatch ? What do I do with them ? I have 4 roosters and I've seen particularly one rooster being her boyfriend :-D I think they're fertilized. This morning was the second time I had a chance to see the eggs when mom got up for stretch/eating/drinking and saw 14 eggs. The first time I saw the eggs when she wasn't around was last week and it was 12. Now I know about marking, but I don't see her off the eggs that much and the times I carry marker with me is the time she doesn't get up ;-) I made a nice broody home in the garage, now once they hatch, should I remove the chicks along with mom ? Because I have 3 8 month old ducks, 4 fully grown roosters, and 12 chicks besides the mom. Will they harm the baby chicks ? The baby mom was randomly attacking the other chicks today for no reason. She's eating one second and the next she's chasing them. They were not close to the eggs at all. I fed and put some water for them and I was out of the run as fast as I can, didn't want to be next :-D *I didn't touch the eggs Can't wait for them to come out Horsefeatherz, congrats
