When will you let the hen sit on eggs?

[AhBee01]

I live in Ohio, and seems 2 of my hens are starting to act broody, when would you let them stay on their eggs?
It is still cold here, I don't want to bring the hens and their babies in, but want the hens to brood the chicks!
I could set up a coop for just the hens and babies, but was wondering what other folks do?
Thanks,
Brenda

 

[rooster-red]

Through the winter I bring the broody and eggs inside to hatch & brood.

 

[lurky]

I have chicks hatching today under a broody. We keep the coop heated and i put the hen and her eggs into a cage so the chicks wont wonder away from the heat. They are on time with today being day 21. So i think you just need to take special care to protect them. I lowered the heat lamp and made sure there are no drafts.

 

[silkiechicken]

I let my broody hatch out a chick when night temps were in the mid 30's and day was in the 40's. I only let her have one chick though as it would make her work in the miserable weather easier.

 

[Wildsky]

Quote:

They have you SO well trained!

 

[lurky]

He is a big teddy bear disguised as a pit bull

 

[bigzio]

That's a good plan silkie, but I think 2 or 3 would still be easy and twice or three times the fun!

bigzio

 

[silkiechicken]

Two or three are probably fine and probably better than just one! She lost all her other eggs.

Just no 10-16 chick bunches in the dead of winter.