Add new chicks now or wait until spring?

[Pox]

Hi! We have 2 barred rock pullets, 14 weeks old. They are doing great outdoors in their coop. We want to get two buff orps and found 4 week old chicks. Winter is coming and the temps in Western PA have dropped to the freezing point the other night. Should I wait to add until the spring or can I still get these babies used to the coop? I just don't want them indoors all winter.

Also, if my barred rocks don't lay in the winter, do I still keep them on chick starter until I have my first egg or should I start adding layer at a certain age?

Thank you!

 

[keljonma]

We are waiting until spring. We are supposed to be getting snow this afternoon. I am so NOT ready for autumn to be over!

 

[ginbart]

Quote:

SNOW

No no not yet.

 

[keljonma]

Quote:

SNOW

No no not yet.

We've been in the mid 30's every night except one this past week..... I better bring my pumpkins in out of the garden!

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Wow! Snow already?? When I lived in NW Indiana, we would get our first snow around Halloween, so that's a bit early!!


Pox
If you have a heat light in the coop for the little ones, they should be fine, just make sure you keep them seperated from the others for a while, till the new ones get a bit bigger. Maybe divide the coop with wire, so the bigger ones can get used to seeing the babies, without being able to get to them.

 

[erthymom2]

I would get the two Buff Orps. and that way you accomplish two things: extra body heat so they all stay warmer, and you'll have eggs in the spring ready to go. Plus both breeds are very pretty and friendliest birds I know - next to my golden comets of course ]

 

[Pox]

Snow.....brrrrrr

We have no way of putting a heat lamp in our little coop, however it is draft-free and can be completely closed. My hubby put in two small vents.

Btw, we love our barred rocks. They are like dogs, they come running and jump right into my lap. I could swear they purr at times!

 

[shelleyd2008]

Ok I ma unsure of how old these chicks are? Are they 4 chicks that are a week old, or 4-week-old chicks? Maybe you should keep them inside in a brooder til they are a bit older. If you put them in there with the bigger ones, they may get squished.

 

[Pox]

Ooops, the chicks are 4 weeks old.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I would still wait until they are a bit bigger. You need to keep them seperate from the older ones for a while after putting them in the coop, so they have a chance to get to know each other. Plus at 4 weeks old, the little ones still need a bit more heat than they can get from a pile-up, plus like I said before, they could get squished in the mix. Good luck!!