I let my broody hen hatch 2 peeps. One survived. The hen was staying with it in the hen house keeping it warm. Now, I see she has it outside running around in the cold. I will have to wait until tonight to catch it to bring it inside & put under a heat lamp. Don't these hens know it's wintertime? I let her hatch the egg to break up her broodiness. She's very stubborn; sitting on empty nests for several weeks.

I always thought chickens hatched only in the spring. I guess I was wrong!

Josh, In some climates, some breeds, such as Jungle Fowl, do have short breeding seasons at one time of year. But our Domestic Fowl are so mixed up, that one cannot predict FOR SURE when they will lay, when they will moult, when they will set. Mother Nature sets the clocks, and while we can manipulate light and feed and heat, it is still possible for Mother Nature to override! Here in Montana, the temperature is 10-20f at night (or lower), and daylight about 7 hours a day--and I have a dear pullet setting, due Jan 14, had a pullet hatched Dec 14--pullets laying, 3 hens moulting, 4 hens singing--they do their own thing, and I watch them all with enjoyment! CJR

I tried to get the peep off the mother and was unable. It's been really cold and the peep is doing fine. I guess I'll let it stay with the mom. I've been making sure it has fresh feed and water.
joyce

Here is a testament to using hens vs incubators. I came home to quite a surprise saturday. I had a hen with 9 chicks running about my yard! I keep several bantam hens for incubating eggs from my show stock, but this rebel hen had stole her nest out. I don't spend as much time with the birds in the winter, and hadn't missed her. Upon investigation, I found her nest under a bush near my front door. She had hatched all of her eggs! The amazing part is that it has been rainy and way too cold (aproaching zero at night) here for a couple of weeks. She hadn't made much of a nest at all, just a few leaves really. I still can't believe that she hatched 100% under such adverse conditions. I have trouble getting a 50% hatch out of the hens in the chicken house when it is so cold. I guess the new family will be vacationing in my basement for a few months!

Mark, What breed is that wonderful hen?? I am hatching now--in the poultry house--but I am keeping the houses about 50f. Problem here in winter is same as incubator problems-- with humidity. We have very low humidity, and heating the houses does not help that! Houses are dry! My sister-in-law followed her mother's method, (both long since deceased--listen and remember what your elders tell you), used to wet the straw in the nest , especially the last 3 or 4 days before hatch is due. Better percentage, expect 100%, of hatch and chicks get out of the shell quickly. I still do it. NOT FOR ALL CLIMATES. . CJR

She is a mixed breed, definitely part Mille Fluer D'Uccle. Good mille color but much larger than a purebred, with pea comb and no beard. Now, how exactly would you go about wetting the straw? I am guessing a fairly light misting might do? My house is not as warm as yours, but water rarely freezes in it. I have a couple of hens due to hatch on Sunday...wonder if I should try this method.