September hatch......

[John Roth]

My well known broody hen went missing a few weeks back. She showed up today with 12 chicks!!! But it's so late in the year. I live in Minnesota so winter starts before it technically starts. Any advice?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Your broody should be able to keep them warm enough until their feathers grow in, I have watched chicks spend no time under their mom, running around with no feathers on and they are fine, just make sure she goes into the coop at night and they should be fine that's usually where they do get under her.

 

[John Roth]

She is a really busy momma she hatched 8 earlier in June

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I really like watching a mommy and her chicks, what breed is she.

 

[John Roth]

She is a good ol' farm mutt. But the father is a Barred Plymouth Rock.

 

[aart]

Had a broody hatch out jan/feb this year, they were fine.

 

[Mrs. K]

I hatched out in October last year, and I got this very good advice here. Soak oats or grain in water over night, and add that to the feed dish. If you dampen your feed, so it is just barely wet, those are ways to help chicks get enough water if you don't have a heated dish.

I don't have heated water in the coop/run, and when her chicks were 10 days old, we had a bitter cold spell of nearly 20 below. I nearly pulled the chicks but they were so lively, I didn't. They would make quit forays out into the world, and after a few minutes, the broody would call a time out, and they would all dive under her for a warm up.

I did take down water twice a day, but it was freezing quickly.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

I hatched out in October last year, and I got this very good advice here. Soak oats or grain in water over night, and add that to the feed dish. If you dampen your feed, so it is just barely wet, those are ways to help chicks get enough water if you don't have a heated dish.

I don't have heated water in the coop/run, and when her chicks were 10 days old, we had a bitter cold spell of nearly 20 below. I nearly pulled the chicks but they were so lively, I didn't. They would make quit forays out into the world, and after a few minutes, the broody would call a time out, and they would all dive under her for a warm up.

I did take down water twice a day, but it was freezing quickly.

Mrs K

I had the same observations, out and bopping about at -5F in the coop, SHM....and also did feed wet food until I was sure they had the hang of the nipple waterers.