Can You Keep Young (8 wk) Chickens in Freezing Climates?

[chickens really]

This is what I do....I live in Alberta, Canada...It gets real cold here in the winter....
My Coop is insulated and well ventilated...I have sand over a lino floor....I run a heat lamp when temps drop to -10 Celsius....My coop is never hot inside. Just warm enough so my water does not freeze...Once your Chicks are feathered they are tough little buggers.
I had my Chicks out in the coop at 7 days old...Set up the brooder inside my coop and hung the lamp...I had 32 chicks and never lost one...Temps went down over night in May to -10 Celsius..
My birds lay eggs all winter...I have never had a frozen egg...I open the pop door to the run every morning regardless of weather and some go out to peck around....Chickens do fine in cold climates..Its summer heat that is hard on Chickens....
You got a lot of good info here from people....Only you can decide what is the best methods for your flock....

Good luck with the new Birds...If you get them for winter or wait till spring? I believe you will be fine...

Cheers!

 

[aart]

This is what I do....I live in Alberta, Canada...It gets real cold here in the winter....
My Coop is insulated and well ventilated...I have sand over a lino floor....I run a heat lamp when temps drop to -10....My coop is never hot inside. Just warm enough so my water does not freeze...Once your Chicks are feathered they are tough little buggers.
I had my Chicks out in the coop at 7 days old...Set up the brooder inside my coop and hung the lamp...I had 32 chicks and never lost one...Temps went down over night in May to -10...
My birds lay eggs all winter...I have never had a frozen egg...I open the pop door to the run every morning regardless of weather and some go out to peck around....Chickens do fine in cold climates..Its summer heat that is hard on Chickens....
You got a lot of good info here from people....Only you can decide what is the best methods for your flock....

Good luck with the new Birds...If you get them for winter or wait till spring? I believe you will be fine...

Cheers!

-10 Celsius or Fahrenheit?

 

[KatyushaB]

-10 Celsius or Fahrenheit?

Fahrenheit, sorry I live here is America. It doesn't USUALLY get the cold down here, but one winter it got below 0 more then a few times, however that is very rare..

Misread, sorry...Aart ignore this I thought you were asking me..

 

[KatyushaB]

I just got some notifications on my phone saying you gave me something called 'ovation' (I probably spelled it wrong). I don't know what it is but I'm sure it's a good thing. Thank you!

 

[aart]

Quote: I was asking @chickens really pertaining to the info given in their quoted post as they live in Canada.

 

[KatyushaB]

I was asking @chickens really pertaining to the info given in their quoted post as they live in Canada.

Misread! Sorry. @aart I thought you were asking me.

 

[chickens really]

Sorry, I made the proper correction to my reply....Celsius....Canadian.....

 

[KatyushaB]

I have a quick question.. Since you have seemed to raise chicks in winter as well. I was just curious if the cold weather and short days will affect their laying abilities. I read somewhere that chickens stop laying in winter because if they were to raise chickens they'd have a hard time surviving. I am aware that they do not start laying until about 6 months in age, would it affect them because they started in winter. Versus say a chicken that was raised in spring, in warm sunlight. Could it affect them in anyway? Just curious. Thank you!

 

[chickens really]

I have a quick question.. Since you have seemed to raise chicks in winter as well. I was just curious if the cold weather and short days will affect their laying abilities. I read somewhere that chickens stop laying in winter because if they were to raise chickens they'd have a hard time surviving. I am aware that they do not start laying until about 6 months in age, would it affect them because they started in winter. Versus say a chicken that was raised in spring, in warm sunlight. Could it affect them in anyway? Just curious. Thank you!

My Chicks are usually hatched between April 1st to May 15th...Depends when I get them...It is COLD here in Alberta till June..

I run a red heat lamp all winter...My Pullets this year were hatched out May 11th....I am just getting eggs now..They slow down in December till the end of January...I still get eggs though...Egg production has nothing to do with Chicks surviving winter...It is day light hours that get the hens into egg production...From what I read when you started the thread you want Chicks soon? By the time they start laying it will be spring...

Helpful I hope?

Cheers!

 

[KatyushaB]

My Chicks are usually hatched between April 1st to May 15th...Depends when I get them...It is COLD here in Alberta till June..

I run a red heat lamp all winter...My Pullets this year were hatched out May 11th....I am just getting eggs now..They slow down in December till the end of January...I still get eggs though...Egg production has nothing to do with Chicks surviving winter...It is day light hours that get the hens into egg production...From what I read when you started the thread you want Chicks soon? By the time they start laying it will be spring...

Helpful I hope?

Cheers!

Very helpful yes!

On this thread I have talked to a lot of very experienced breeders. I think you are one also. You've no doubt said that it is very possible to raise chicks in winter, but do you think that I, a beginner breeder with 0 experience raising chicks.. Should try it?