Chicken bald back

[jameslcfc]

Hello again, I am thinking of breeding my chickens and wondered if its possible to breed in december and wether they would survive our winters. I want to incubate naturally and let my hens look after them. I have silkies. Any advice would be appreciated

[redsunset]

That's a tough one! I have only had one (surprise) hatch of chicks this year and it was in the hottest wk in July. No experience if winter hatchlings but I'd expect they would have to be indoors for at least 8-9 weeks with mum in cold weather. Not sure re silkies hardiness but some ppl on here will?

[Mars]

You have to keep them indoors or they die

[Egluntyne]

Not a good idea. The roosters fertility dwindles and therefore there will be a lower success rate in terms of fertilised eggs.

 

If you do hatch successfully now, the chicks will be ready to come off heat (ie off a heat lamp) when the weather is at its worst, and so you are likely to lose them.

 

Best to wait until Spring.

[Purplemaniacs]

I'm no expert but I would wait for spring too, they then get longer hours of daylight to develop fully and the weather will be warmer.

 

Chrissie

[sjp]

I've not done December hatches but I've done January and February hatches plus August and September ones which have and are my best hatches the ones I've had in spring and early summer to be honest have been terrible both under a broody and in an incubator to the point I'm not going to hatch between mid march and late June anymore I only use eggs from my own birds and now I only broody hatch

[Beantree]

I wouldn't advise it James unless you have heated accommodation through the whole process. We've hatched in October and it cost a fortune in electricity for heating and lighting. Doubt a broody would sit successfully outside as she may be unable to keep the heat up and burn herself out in the process.

[jameslcfc]

Thanks guys, I will leave it till spring and see what happens