Advice/Moral Support? Ordering my first flock

[Cyneswith]

I'm about to order my first flock (a little different than planned, because My Pet Chicken is out of Blue Orpingtons until at least November.) Delivery date of ~September 12 for Buff Orpington, Australorp, and Silver-laced Wyandotte (Murphy, Maggie, and Molly.) My coop isn't even halfway finished, but I don't want to lose out on my tri-colored ultra-docile large-breed flock. Should I wait until my coop is finished, or secure my birds? I think I might... chicken out... if I put it off too long, and ordering chicks in winter seems a bad plan.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

Chicks should be kept in a brooder until they feather anyway, so you should have plenty of time to build if you make good time doing it. I hope you enjoy your birds! I want to get Buffs and Wyandottes sometime when I get the chance.

 

[masmom]

They're chicks? Too tiny for a coop. They'll need a brooder and heat for the first few weeks. I'm in E. TN and just hatched a bunch of blue Orps. I'll give them to you if you aren't too far to drive and pick them up. I just enjoy hatching

 

[lazy gardener]

I would plan on brooding the chicks right in the coop with a heating pad brooder. Be sure you build it big enough so that each bird has a minimum of 4 s.f. of free floor space in the coop per bird. Put in LOTS of ventilation, and cover all openings with 1/2" hardware cloth. You should easily be able to complete your coop by September. So, go ahead and order your chicks. I have found that if I don't order early, chances are pretty good that they will be sold out of my breed selection. Especially more difficult as the "chick season" progresses.

 

[lazy gardener]

Many of us brood our chicks in the coop. If you provide the appropriate heat, there is absolutely no reason why one should have to put up with the stink, the dander, and the noise, as well as the personal space disruption by having chicks in the house. Been there, done that. NEVER AGAIN!!!!

 

[masmom]

Chicks should be kept in a brooder until they feather anyway, so you should have plenty of time to build if you make good time doing it. I hope you enjoy your birds! I want to get Buffs and Wyandottes sometime when I get the chance.

Oops. Slow at typing on my phone. What Arin's Backyard said

 

[masmom]

A brooder doesn't have to be in your house. Just as long as it's 95° first week, -5 thereafter until they feather out some. You being in S.C. should be in about 3 wks. According to your selected breeds.

 

[Folly's place]

I brood chicks either in my garage, for three weeks max, or right in the coop. Nevermore in the house!!! Mary

 

[masmom]

Meant to add, one of my brooders is outside. 3×8. Has electricity hookup with heat, as neaded.

 

[Debutante]

I just finished brooding 24 chicks in my house for 7 weeks and, as God is my witness, I will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER do it again!!! The dust is unfathomable, and it's not just "ordinary" dust, it's a weird oily silt that gets into everything... and I mean everything, everywhere. Brooding in the coop, with appropriate heating (such as a Brinsea brooder) and iron-clad predator protection is the way to go, in my opinion. Next spring, I will brood a batch IN the coop, in a large dog crate to gradually socialize them with the existing flock, and on pine shavings to make the "poop control issues" more manageable. Just my two cents. Good luck!