Why wait for Spring to hatch?

[FenrisMau]

We are pretty new at this still, so perhaps this is a dumb question.

My ancona duck hen has just started laying this week. I have drakes that are of breeding age and more than willing.

Why do folks always wait until spring to hatch?

 

[sourland]

Because temperatures are more moderate for many.

 

[Jenbirdee]

We are pretty new at this still, so perhaps this is a dumb question.

My ancona duck hen has just started laying this week. I have drakes that are of breeding age and more than willing.

Why do folks always wait until spring to hatch?

where do you live? do you get snow and freezing temps in winter? not to mention ice storms - they are the worst !
I am in Maryland, which is zone seven, our temps go as low as three or 4° in January/February. If I were to hatch out little ones in Nov /Dec, then when time comes to get them out of the house, it would be middle of winter and I wouldn’t want to put them outside in that kind of weather so I’d have to keep them inside a lot longer, which is a ton of work and mess and smells

 

[KathiQuacks]

So far, I’ve hatched once in spring, once in winter. Even in Texas, I’ll definitely pick spring from here on out.

Yes, it’s the difference between letting your babies run around outside right away and keeping them indoors until they’re fully feathered. Waiting to hatch when temperatures are warmer is easier and better for everyone.

It also may be better to wait ‘til your hen is a bit older and had more experience laying. Eggs from new layers tend to have more deformities in shape, size, shell quality, etc.

 

[Quatie]

I find my fertility rate is also a lot higher in the spring. As drakes go into their eclipse plumage, there are far less fertilized eggs. For some, I notice their egg quality drop near the end of the season as they get ready to molt. And just overall a lot less eggs too

 

[HollowOfWisps]

There is a reason the majority of animals have their young in the spring. The weather is more conducive to raising young and food is more widely available along with having a higher nutrition content which means fertility is naturally at its highest. When it comes to raising animals and choosing spring it’s easier to take care of animals in the spring, but also high fertility and more available nutrients=healthier offspring.

 

[FenrisMau]

where do you live? do you get snow and freezing temps in winter? not to mention ice storms - they are the worst !
I am in Maryland, which is zone seven, our temps go as low as three or 4° in January/February. If I were to hatch out little ones in Nov /Dec, then when time comes to get them out of the house, it would be middle of winter and I wouldn’t want to put them outside in that kind of weather so I’d have to keep them inside a lot longer, which is a ton of work and mess and smells

We are in Georgia, we might see snow once every 5 years. It might not be too bad for us to raise babies in different times of the year... but would still have to keep them inside longer and provide heat etc until fully feathered.

Omg and that sounds miserable!!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Even when I lived in Maryland (I'm in Florida now) I brooded outside in winter. Hardest thing about it was keeping fresh unfrozen water, and having to walk through snow to do the chores at time. I like brooding in winter so I have birds laying or close to it in late spring/early summer.