This may be a stupid question. . . Should I let my hen brood?

[deborah]

I admit I am still new to this. Everything I have read, March thru May is the best time to hatch chicks.

I have a hen who is broody right now. I've put golf balls under her and I'm letting her sit on them. I would love to put fertilized eggs under her and let them hatch, but I'm worried it would be getting very cold about the time the Mama hen left them on their own. Any pullets would be maturing in the spring when the days are getting longer (I thought I read somewhere you want them to mature when the days are getting shorter). Little chicks this time of year wouldn't have time to build up resistance to coccidiosus (however you spell that).

But I see lots of people who seem to be hatching now in incubators. Would that be different than letting a hen do it? Is my thinking wrong? As I said, I'd love to let her hatch some chicks. But I don't want to make a big mistake. Please help.

 

[wyliefarms]

We are starting some chicks now so in the spring they will be laying.

We have done chicks in both in the spring and in the fall.

The fall works great for showing the birds. They are best about 9 months of age and up to show.

 

[coffeemama]

You might want to move this to another forum to get better replies. Maybe chicken behavior, or raising chicks?