Advise Needed! Okay to get chicks this Fall???

[teach1rusl]

My coop is about finished, and the run should be done in another week. I've told myself that I would wait till late February to get chicks. My husband just laughs and says no way will I wait that long. I hate to say that he's right, but....

So my question:

If I get my chicks (4 or 5 of a standard breed) in mid September, will they be okay by the time they're old enough to transition to the coop?? I'm in southern Indiana. We do get pretty cold winters (freezing and below) and occasional snow. Our coldest months are December and January. Their actual housing is tight and insulated, so that part doesn't worry me TOO much. I would try to transition them out to the coop late Oct.??? They would only be about 12 weeks by early December though. Would they be okay through the winter??? I appreciate your opinions and advice. If you think it wouldn't be safe for the chicks, then I will just wait till late February.

Sorry if this posting is in the wrong place. I felt is was a managing flock concern moreso than a chick thing...Please let me know if I need to move it...

 

[fordmommy]

I'm going to watch your post. I am going to wait until spring myself to get a few more. I'm in central Wisconsin. I don't want to heat the coop this winter if I don't have to. My chickens now are just starting to lay. They are all stand breeds.

 

[Biddylover]

I don't know what anyone else will say but are you going to run a light to the henhouse. There are people on here from WI and other chilly places I'm sure they will give you good advice. IMO they will be plenty feathered out by 12 weeks, and if you will have a light for those extra cold times it shouldn't be a problem.

I have 6 twelve day old EE's tweeting away next to me as I'm typing, they are going out with the others when they hit 6 weeks *separated of course for integration* our winters here are extremely unreliable. Can be 12 degrees with a windchill of 0 one day and 65 degrees the next. My husband has promised to run our light to the henhouse before he is deployed in 17 days........LOL we will see

 

[ducks4you]

Just do what all of the rest of us have done---keep 'em in the house until you're sick of it, and if it's not TOO cold and they have all of the feathers, send 'em out!!

Maybe, you'll feel sorry for them (like the rest of us) and you'll have indoor birds until next April!!

Maybe, you'll get sick of them around Christmas and everyone at the table will have their own bird, like the size of a Rock Cornish. Then you'll put in a new order about February for your next flock.

 

[popcornpuppy]

I use a heat lamp in my coop in the winter. My coop is a converted shed, and keeps them safe from the cold.
I have one Polish that does not do well in the cold so I try to keep it warm for her. (When I say warm, I mean no lower than 32 degrees.) The rest of my flock are cold weather hearty. I have Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks and Leghorns. We choose those birds for their hardiness to our climate.
So, for your situation I would think that 12 weeks in old enough to go outside as they would be fully feathered and well on their way to maturity. It sounds like the coop you have will be insulated enough to keep them warm, and since you want to get heavy breeds they will be able to deal with winter in Indiana.

 

[Mrs.ChickChick]

Quote:

Poor little innocent, peeping, adorable, trusting babies! Merry Christmas to you too. Sicko.


LOL

 

[teach1rusl]

Mrs.ChickChick :

Quote:

Poor little innocent, peeping, adorable, trusting babies! Merry Christmas to you too. Sicko.


LOL

Thanks guys...lol. I think I'll opt for a heat lamp as popcornpuppy suggested rather than the Cornish hen idea.​

 

[Whirlwind]

I always get fall chicks. I keep them inside for the first 4 weeks or so. Then put them in the well house with a heat lamp til

they get good and feathered out and are out growing the brooder box. I turn off the lamp before I put them outside. I

have a brooder pen I put them in untill they are ready to roost with the big girls. Give them some straw in a large dog

crate. Never had any problems at all with the cold. It gets cold here too in the winter and they have always done fine

Right now I have 4 week olds out with their momma in the brooder pen and have noticed they dont sleep under her

anymore and it is mid 60's to low 70's for the low. I thought they would still be sleeping under her awhile longer. Guess

they are tougher than I thought. I don't keep any heat in my coop for the winter. Sometimes I put plastic canvas up to

block the wind. That is what gets ya here is the wind. Good luck with your chicks and enjoy. They are so fun to watch.

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
Whirlwind, you have eased my mind. Thanks!

 

[natalie1136]

I have nearly 80 eggs in the incubator right now so i will be haveing fall chicks also. I live in central Illinois so our weather is about the same as yours. I say go for it, but you will probably have to provide them with a heat light in the winter. That's what we do. Did it last year too.