Are fall chicks a bad idea in Zone 5?

[thecatumbrella]

The reason between the two is sweeter heaters are larger, and way more expensive. The coops each have a heater in them already, both electric, one oil-filled, and the other more like a small furnace installed into a wall. These heat the entire coop(s). Both keep the coops to around 40-45°F all winter. Sweeter Heaters or Cozy Coops only heat the area in direct proximity of them.

It's the growout pens I'd never have been able to keep chicks in for the winter without something in there. They don't need much because those hutches are like dog houses, so they run in when they get cold, then back out to frolic in the pen.

This is an example of one. The others are similar but like square boxes and not this fancy.

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That makes a lot of sense. I’ve always wondered about the logistics of your heated coops. I know Silkies are more rugged than people give them credit for, but Wisconsin winters are no joke. Adorable little chicken house, by the way!

 

[Debbie292d]

That makes a lot of sense. I’ve always wondered about the logistics of your heated coops. I know Silkies are more rugged than people give them credit for, but Wisconsin winters are no joke. Adorable little chicken house, by the way!

Thank you! Usually hubby builds the hutches, but this shed we found two hours away on Marketplace. The guy builds those and we got it for $300, unshingled, unpainted.

Hubby is an electrician, so if anything electric wasn't safe, we wouldn't be putting them in these coops of ours. He did oodles of research before choosing the heaters we have. Like neither are digital, meaning, if power goes out, when it comes back on, these will come back on. Digital ones need to be turned back on by a human.

Silkies, some will say, can take these subzero temps, but first off, we don't want them suffering, as days of that will start wearing on them. And secondly, homey here wasn't about to be hauling water twice a day through the frozen tundra!

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

They'd be hatching next week. Large fowl breeds like Orpingtons, Sussex, Australorps, etc. I brood in my basement, which doesn't get below 50 degrees. My run will be weather and wind protected for winter. No heat in the coop, and the coop will likely be inside the run.

At 6 weeks-old, the average temps for my area will be 50F high, 30F low. At 8 weeks, 44/26. Of course, the weather never actually reflects the average and will be all over the place.

Also, I read something about fall chicks needing extra light to prevent early-onset laying (and reproductive issues). Something about the days getting longer as they approach point-of-lay. Anyone know anything about this?

Feel free to talk me into or out of this idea.

November here, central Indiana, zone 5, and after watching our broody 2 years ago with just the heat of a fluorescent light bulb in her little area, she did great in December and February with clutches (crazy girl) (she was one that wouldn't break, have posts about her haha)

But with our wind blocks, heating plates, and ambient, I have our growout ready for the 14 chicks that hatched over the weekend.

I checked their area this morning(6am) and it was 55-56F. Outside there section inside run was 45, and outside run/coop was 33.

They will go out this evening if my migraine holds off/leaves, as I have two small things to do, but couldn’t find my batting yesterday, but I used the chicken mulch to block draft.

Good luck!