what month should you stop and start setting EGGS

[jammyjammy2112]

hello i would like to hatch chicks in about two weeks is that still possible or is it a good idea would they molt at the rong time of year if i set the eggs in two weeks and with broody hens would they go broody at this time of year and is it a good idea to let them. i hatched one broody this year with my incubator and one with my silkie hen both in febuary and hatched in april they both hatched the same day only 4 hatched with the hen but 2 wondered off and there's 5 that hatched out of my 10 egg incubator 4 left. thanks i would like to hatch more.

 

[JanO]

If you are using an incubator you can hatch any time you want. I know people who hatch year round and others who only hatch during the spring and summer months. It's up to you as to when the best time fits into your schedule.

 

[jammyjammy2112]

If you are using an incubator you can hatch any time you want. I know people who hatch year round and others who only hatch during the spring and summer months. It's up to you as to when the best time fits into your schedule.

thanks but i was wondering would they molt or lay in. the Rong time of the year or would they be just fine.would they make it threw the winter here in ireland our winter is unexpected sometimes very cold sometimes very wet

 

[JanO]

As long as they are sheltered from the wind, dry, and kept warm they will be fine. We have very cold, wet winters here and I've had chicks hatch in Dec. and Jan.

I've never had a chick molt before it was a year or so old, and they usually don't go broody until they are at the very least laying age, if not older. In fact, now that I think about it I don't think I've ever had one go broody until at least a year old either, but I've heard of others who have had them go broody earlier.

 

[jammyjammy2112]

thanks jano i have had chicks hatch in late augest last year my maren only hatch one of 12 eggs i was inexpirenced it was my first hatch and i left a tub of water in with the mother and chicks he chick jumped in a drowned i wasn't there to save him

This april my silkie went broody my secound ever hatch 4 out of 6 eggs hatched but since i was still inexpireanced i left the doore open sligthly 2 of the smaller chicks got out and could get back in

But theres still 2 chicks that are 8 weeks old and 9 weeks old
i bougth an incubator near christmas and hatched a brood in april they are 8 weeks old aswell 4 chicks and i am planning to hatch more in july

 

[JanO]

It sounds like you've learned some very valuable lessons about chicks. I hope your next batch fare better. I, knock on wood, have never had a problem with my broody hens hatching, except for one that I should have moved before the hatch. I should have known better and I'm kicking myself for it now. However I have 7 chicks now that I hatched in the incubator with 6 keets that are now just over a month old and doing wonderful. My main purpose for hatching chicks this year was to help replenish my flock after being nearly wiped out last fall by a coyote. So far this year I've added 13 new chickens, and 6 guineas, but I think I have a couple of cockerels in the mix so they will be culled in a few weeks. Soon I'll start up another batch of guinea eggs to add to the flock and depending on how well that goes I will probably not do any more eggs of any kind until late summer or early fall, unless I have customers wanting keets or chicks. A couple of my egg customers have expressed an interest in purchasing some babies to raise this summer, so we'll see how it goes.

 

[chickydee64]

It sounds like you've learned some very valuable lessons about chicks. I hope your next batch fare better. I, knock on wood, have never had a problem with my broody hens hatching, except for one that I should have moved before the hatch. I should have known better and I'm kicking myself for it now. However I have 7 chicks now that I hatched in the incubator with 6 keets that are now just over a month old and doing wonderful. My main purpose for hatching chicks this year was to help replenish my flock after being nearly wiped out last fall by a coyote. So far this year I've added 13 new chickens, and 6 guineas, but I think I have a couple of cockerels in the mix so they will be culled in a few weeks. Soon I'll start up another batch of guinea eggs to add to the flock and depending on how well that goes I will probably not do any more eggs of any kind until late summer or early fall, unless I have customers wanting keets or chicks. A couple of my egg customers have expressed an interest in purchasing some babies to raise this summer, so we'll see how it goes.

HI, I live in Oregon......rain, rain ,rain................and we live on the gorge so have unbelievable winds.
I hatch year round and no problems .As someone said already said, they just need a place to stay dry and out of the wind.
I think they know when to molt..............my winter babies molt the following fall.............
Good grief.and this year one of my old girls almost went bald.................

I could not believe how featherless she was...almost put a sweater on her................but she did fine...........................good luck.=)

 

[jammyjammy2112]

thanks guys and jano thank god we have no coyotes or wolfs or any of does big wild animals here in ireland the worst preditor here would be a fox or eagle or hawk, hawks are bearly a problem here.i have never lost any of my chickens for wild animals. nock on wood.

chickydee64 its rain here in ireland all year around last year was like the worst we would get a months wort of rain in a day.And the winter befor last winter broke records for ireland -20 degrease it migthn't seem like much for ye but it was alot for use we weren't expecting it roads airports everthing just stoped.

This year has been quite good weather wise for chicks