Will chicks hatch too early in this heat?

[jlovepj1027]

I have read everywhere that most experiences with a broody has chicks hatching early, even more so I hear they hatch early in the heat. We are having one hot summer, warm nights and now the temps are over 100 and going to be so the next week. They are to hatch in 8 days, but should I be checking a bit sooner?

 

[molly1chickens]

Heat can encourage early hatching however it is not usual and would only be up to there days early so. If I were you I would be checking a bit from the 6th day, but they don't need constant monitoring before that because it is very unusual.

 

[jlovepj1027]

Thank you! Yes I see is rare however not in excessive heat, and with the persistent record breaking heat we've been having, I'm starting to wonder. Well thank you!

 

[jlovepj1027]

It was 101 today but weather is saying 106 tomorrow. Do I bring her inside??

 

[Dmeredith12]

I have been wondering the same thing, temps have been over 100 for the last 4 days. Is it possible that the eggs can get to hot? It is day 17, this is my first time with a hen hatching eggs.

 

[jlovepj1027]

I have been wondering the same thing, temps have been over 100 for the last 4 days. Is it possible that the eggs can get to hot? It is day 17, this is my first time with a hen hatching eggs.

It is my first time ever hatching eggs as well. We had a few days of 108 temperature, it's staying 100+ daily but I have a fan in her coop pointing outward to circulate more air. I have noticed my hen rotating on and off the eggs, I believe to cool them down. We are on day 18 and none have hatched or pipped yet so we'll see. I also keep hearing bantams and silkies often hatch earlier, so if the heat would be a factor they would all be pipping today. I have barbanters, Americaunas, a silkie and two bantam eggs that she's sitting on. I will keep you updated!

 

[azygous]

Let's look at this question logically. The purpose of a broody hen is to sit on eggs and keep them at a nearly constant temperature around 100F. Just as her body insulates the eggs against cold air, so will her body insulate the eggs against hot air and the eggs getting too warm.

I see no possibility of eggs hatching any sooner than the 21 days that chicken eggs historically require for hatching.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My broody hens regularly hatch as much as two days early, even in fairly cool weather. I often get early hatches in my incubator also. Very seldom do I actually get a 21 day hatch, 19 or 20 is normal for me. That’s not due to the heat though. There are many different things that can cause eggs to hatch early or late that are not temperature related. Heredity is one. I’m pretty sure my flock has the genetics that causes early hatches. Some have genetics that cause late hatches.

It seldom gets above 100 degrees here and stay that way for long. A few years back we did have daytime high temperatures of 110 or higher for a couple of weeks. I had a broody hen hatch during that spell. She was early but no earlier than normal.

 

[Dmeredith12]

I only have 3 eggs under my hen, 2 Austrolorps and 1 Americauna. My hen has also been rotating in the nest, sometimes she will be in the wrong nest but I had read that they sometimes hop in the wrong nest after they come back from eating and drinking. I know it's a learning process for us newbies, lol. But I know that she knows what she is doing. I will keep you posted as well.

 

[jlovepj1027]

I only have 3 eggs under my hen, 2 Austrolorps and 1 American. My hen has also been rotating in the nest, sometimes she will be in the wrong nest but I had read that they sometimes hop in the wrong nest after they come back from eating and drinking. I know it's a learning process for us newbies, lol. But I know that she knows what she is doing. I will keep you posted as well.

I have been so scared wondering if she did know what she was doing and she does. Hoping there's at least a pip today but we will see. And yes my gal was also trying to go to a different nesting box so my husband made a new coop we now call the maternity ward, for her and the chicks. Lol!