Winter Broody Hen question

[Stewzoo]

I have not had a hen go broody in the winter where I have let her hatch eggs. I had an abundance of eggs and decided to let her sit on 10 while I stuffed my incubator as well.

My question is about the babies...should I let her keep her babies with her or pull them and put them under heat lamps in a broody box. It hasn't been too cold yet, but we are in Wisconsin and it can get darn chilly on some winter nights. The eggs hatching from the incubator will be going in the broody box.

 

[sourland]

I have had hens raise winter broods without supplemental heat, and I have had hens who were unsuccessful under the same conditions. Letting them raise chcks without added heat is a sort of a crap shoot, and I'm betting that Wisconsin winters are more severe than those here in NJ.

 

[Stewzoo]

Usually I let my broodies raise the babies. I didn't think this plan through when I had egg hatching on the brain. Will she be OK if I pull the babies from her?

 

[sourland]

She'll be upset for a while, but will adjust.