Hello Friends. Got a question to throw out there to you.. How many breeders here hatch chicks in the Winter months?? I have 4 brood pens set up and Hope to hatch some chicks by Dec.. I have all my Old Brood Stock in these breeding pens. I set up two pens of my Sanchez Jerezano/Spanish and two pens of my Sanchez Whammy Bammy Puerto Rican Toppies.. I am worried that I may lose some of these Older Breeders, So I am breeding up some of my Old Not So Inbred Brood Stock together in the Hopes of Keep these Lines going for many more years to come!! Will keep you All posted on my Winter hatching down here in Florida!!! Have a Happy and Safe Holiday to All.. yf Al Sanchez

I hatch chicks in winter. I'm starting a batch after Thanksgiving. I don't usually have a problem losing any, as it usually doesn't stay too cold here for very long.

it would depend on your climate.
but for me, i think hatching by January and letting the chicks range by mid-march works fine.



1 more thing...
What if your hen hatches in winter and you remove the chicks from her? will it cause extreme stress to her?

Friend: I use two methods to hatch chicks. Incubator and Hen.. If I let the Hen set & hatch she will raise the chicks. If I incubate and Hatch Chicks, then I raise the Chicks.. I prefer the Hen Hatch & raise them Stinky little Chicks!!! LOL..

Personally, I would love to live in an area I could do fall hatching, but up my way, you got to raise them inside if you do. But, in saying this, if I could hatch year round, my wife would send me to chicken therapy, cause I would surely be over run quickly...

Cuda: I only hatch from November to March here in Florida.. During late Spring to early Fall is the Rainy season here in West Central Florida. I find I have heavier losses of chicks and very young birds during that time of year. So this way with my Hatching Season I have better survival rate on chicks. But I agree with you that a Breeder has to limit there hatching season or get over run with birds.. yf Al Sanchez

al sanchez what part of florida you from/?

Most of my hens won't oblige me and go broody during the winter. They wait until the heat of summer!

My winter chicks get to be raised in outside brooders with supplemental lighting and heat.

Friend I live just North of Tampa in Wesley Chapel..

hey everyone , i wanna hatch an early clutch of chicks this year around january so chicks due febuary , but the weather in ireland is cold and wet most times of the year with feb march especially cold, can neone tell me how to get the hens laying early and to go broody and would the chicks do ok hatched and kept indoors til fully feathered, i.e wud they need direct sunlight everyday , normally i let the hens hatch naturally later in the year but i cant w8 dis year