Can baby chicks survive fall/winter with thier mother hen?

[cindymarion]

We just had a hen that hatched 7 baby chicks in a tree holler one day ago. Will the hen protect them from the cold? Or should we take the baby chicks away from her? Cold weather is coming in a couple of days. We live in NC.
Thanks,
Cindy

 

[doodledoo]

Does she have a coop where she can stay out of the weather with the chicks? If so, I would leave them with the momma and let her take care of them, she will keep them warm.

 

[cindymarion]

Yes, we have a chicken-coop. So it would be alright to move her and the chicks to the coop?

 

[silkiechicken]

Yep, once the chicks are out, go ahead and move them to the coop. As long as she doesn't have to fight off too many other hens to keep her babies safe, she will raise them just fine. I have a hen raise a lone chick in Feb once. At 3 days old, it was raining, about 40F, and what do I see? A little baby fluff ball running around with mom through wet grass and mud.

They took lots of breaks and the little girl grew up just fine.

 

[sunbury chick]

I have a Buff thats broody.If I left some eggs in the nest with her,would she hatch them and could they survive.It's mid Novemember in Ohio.It's cold already, Can someone give me some answers please? Thanks P.S. I've been taking the eggs out from under her everyday...

 

[austinhart123]

i have many broodys raising chicks and a broody hatching eggs, they will keep em warm

 

[Southernbelle]

A good broody hen will do an excellent job keeping her babies warm. I usually keep my broodies in an indoor pen, protected from the elements, but I don't add any extra heat. So far, no problems.

 

[conny63malies]

They survived tens of thousands of years without a coop and our help. So i think ,yes they will be okay.

 

[Daycare Mom]

I sure hope they can keep them warm. My momma hen just hatched 6 (so far) this morning and it is snowing like crazy. They seem to be warm, happy and healthy.

 

[ThornyRidge]

I am in NE Ohio and it was cold and snowy today and I had a silkie hatch 5 unexpected peeps 3 weeks ago today.. they are almost feathered out but I have them in a large dog crate with pine shavings and mom in my barn where there is no heat.. they seem too be doing fine.. heck stick your hand under mom and it is literally like an oven.. amazing how they can produce abundant body heat. They are very active and eating /drinking and trying to fly a bit.. seems as if very soon all will outgrow the dog crate and will just be put in a stall to fend for themself..