Most of my hens become broody when it gets cold so I was thinking this year that I would purchase some eggs for them to sit on and hatch them. I was wondering if it was a good idea to hatch them during the winter or not? I would bring the broody hen(s) inside to sit on the eggs but wasn't sure if it would change the outcome of there being more roosters or more hens and what not. Any answer is helpful, thank you.
Bringing the hens inside to sit on the eggs likely won't change the number of hens and roosters you get out of it, but I have a hen who went broody last winter, and hatched out a batch of 8 chicks all on her own, for the first time, without any help. She belonged to a friend then, and we took her in after that. She has since gone broody twice, and is currently sitting on four eggs due to hatch any day now. It can be a little more difficult and inconvenient to have them hatch chicks in the winter, but from my experience, they can definitely do it. I hope this helps! ~KeyFlock
