Beware of raising winter chicks

[ralphwt]

Chicken Canoe, thanks for the pics, they were outstanding. Question, why the ply brooder and not a reflector?

 

[blessedchick]

My first batch of chickies hatched out on Dec 13th so they are still happily living in a brooder in my bedroom (Ahh..the advantages of being single!

) When they outgrow the brooder they can go into my mud room in a HUGE canvas dog pen that I used with the swans. Once they out grow that one they will go into a BIGGER one in the garage...all equipped with heat lights. It better be spring by then so I can put them out in their new coop/run...I'm so excited!

I guess that raising the swans helped to break me into raising critters in less than ideal circumstances - with them it was a fear of predators and they had to be on water. So my baby pool got a work out till the "Angels" were ready to be turned loose on the pond. And if the chickies get too dusty...oh well! I have 2 cockatoos and an African Grey that produce enough dander to choke a horse, so my air purifiers will just have to run double time! I love having these babies in the house...they get tons of kisses and spoiling that way!

 

[gritsar]

When do most hens go broody? In the spring or summertime, right? Don't you think mother nature knows what she's doing? I agree 110% with Mike. Springtime is the right time for chicks.

My youngest pullets hatched in June (except for one crossbeak chick that is about 4 months old) are all laying now, when my older hens have slowed down for winter. There's no need to worry about them molting now, because they are too young. I'm sure next year they will all be molting at the same time my older hens do - late autumn, early winter - regardless of when they were hatched. Mother Nature plans their molts too.

My chickens all get wormed once a year, so I don't fret about it. Coccidiosis is dealt with by the use of medicated chick starter. Our soil is rampant with it, so use of the medicated chick starter is necessary and prudent.

No one will ever be able to convince me that chicks are better off being raised in the winter.

 

[Shayna]

Quote:
Don't tell that to my broody silkies! They all just stopped laying to go broody and if I let them have it their way, they'd all be hatching babies outside right now!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Don't tell that to my broody silkies! They all just stopped laying to go broody and if I let them have it their way, they'd all be hatching babies outside right now!

Well silkies being the exception of course. They are just chronic broodies, or at least the two I had were. You'll notice I said "most hens".

 

[whidbeylife4me]

Thought I would add my 2 cents. I hatched 7 chicks just before Thanksgiving, had a regular 75w bulb on them for about 2 weeks, the bathroom they are in stays 60-70 degrees. Took the bulb away as they were feathering nicely, then last weekend put them outside in a small run with a dog crate to huddle in at night. They are doing great, no huddling or acting cold,they are actively running around pen. My feelings are that we are creating non-hardy chicks and chickens by giving them too much heat too long. They are much more adaptable and hardier than people think. I have loved having chicks this time of year and they should lay late spring when people will just be getting their chicks. The Temps here have been 30-50 degrees, which I understand is a little warmer than where some of you are. My parents have both had chickens since they were kids and my dad is 83, he remembers the kerosene incubator his parents used when he was abot 6 yrs old.


Joy

 

[Me & Jack]

Springtime is the right time for chicks.

I never said spring and summer were worse than winter - only that there's some trade off. I think the earlier in the spring the better, that's all (like March and April). Fall is a good time, too -- at least where I live. I'm also a little nervous about hens going broody in the summer, as it can get into the 100s here, and I actually lost a broody hen (and all her babies) one summer, I think because she wasn't getting off the nest often enough to drink her water.

If you're prepared and have the time and means, then having chicks in January or February is not a "bad" time, per se. But, to each his (or her) own: some people obviously prefer particular seasons over others.​

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
I wish this was my experience, but I have a bantam frizzle and she's been trying to sit on eggs for a while now. I do intend to give her some just the same. I had a Dominique hatch two for two in the dead of winter with below zero temps. Right now I have 20 chicks bought at auction cuz the price was right. I got SFH's for half of GF's and Birchen Marans for about a third. All doing well so far. I'm getting ready for the transition to a larger brooder area.

I think the key is to be prepared to raise chicks at anytime of year and not work with more than you can handle at anyone time. Which is where I am right now. My first 25 were delivered on Feb 25th. I've learned alot since then.


Best of everything to us all in the coming New Year,

Rancher

 

[MIKE555444]

It can certainly be done but my guess is if it is cold enough to freeze the waterer then it's too cold for pullets that are under 10 weeks to flourish. Wintering will certainly require some preparation and dedication.

Out of 60+ hens I seem to always have one broody most of the time... or at least I keep one in the break up pen. Part of that might be because of my early morning "lights on" that extends there days and probably messes with their natural routine. One thing for sure, the Momma hen would have a better chance of keeping them alive than me lol. When the power goes off during a snow storm she still has toastie chicks under her and for me... well id be scrambling to find a way to keep them warm.

 

[Aves]

I agree too...this is the first year that I have ordered and raised winter chicks and the work and ease of raising and stress level is much higher/harder now than the spring/summer...not to mention the cost of the heat lamp running for a longer period of time.

Won't do it again!!!

Aves