Thoughts on hatching in the winter?

[Willow2253]

I’ve got a stubborn broody who wants to sit. Normally we would let her.y concern now though is that the weather is getting colder, I expect if she starts incubating now it’ll be freezing most days by the time her chicks hatch. We’ve already had several nights of freezing temperatures. Does anyone have experience hatching in the winter? Are there any extra measures we should take? Should we even bother or just try to break her? She’s sitting on fake eggs now but we’ve got fertile eggs.

 

[RoosterML]

If you want chicks let her go for it. Momma will take care of them.

 

[Willow2253]

If you want chicks let her go for it. Momma will take care of them.

Thanks! My family is starting to warm up to the idea, and I realized after I posted that if we let her start tomorrow we’ll get thanksgiving babies.

 

[Honora]

I am in the same situation. I used to live in California so I never had to worry about broodies hatching in cold weather, but it is much colder where I live now! Not sure if I should let her hatch or break her

 

[Willow2253]

This girl is hard to break so I’m going to let her give it a shot. We’re working on a roof for the run now so it should be done by the time chicks hatch, so they’ll have some protection from the snow. I may put a heat lamp in her corner of the coop if it gets too cold too.