Colorado

[coloradogal]

Hi All
I am new to the chicken world (Colorado Springs) and have spent every evening for months reading up. Thank you for all the great info!
We started w a science project chick and raised Midnight as a pet. We now have a coop, run and bought 4 new chicks (3 black austerlops and 1 ancona) to keep Midnight company

. Well our 4 new ones are tiny (not bantam) and they are the same age as Midnight (8 weeks) Well I posted a pic here on the what breed forum and found out Midnight is really a he -- no wonder he is 3 times the size of our new hens. He will be going to a friends farm.

he is so sweet, he will jump up in your lap and go to sleep. Sorry for the long narrative but I do have a question, now that we are down to 4 girls (and they are so small) I am thinking of picking up a couple more. The coop is plenty big as we thought they would all be as big as midnight. Am I too late in the season? Should I wait until next year? Does anyone have juveniles available ( Easter egger, rhode island red, Americana, (winter hardy, good layer, not black - my husband thinks they look like crows

). Or perhaps you know or could recommend a breeder/hatchery/etc???
If you think I should wait then I think I will need a light to add some heat in the coop. What temperature should I try and keep the coop. What temps are best?
So much to learn but I love them!!
Thanks.

So much depends... how big is your coop now? Is it insulated? What type of roosts?

The one where you boil them for a solid 15 minutes? Dang and I had this bookmarked for future reference. Maybe it has something to do with our altitude.

Yup. That's the one. Some come out nice, the rest are better but still not great. I hate everyone who says that's its tried and true. I want to tell them that perhaps it is, at sea level.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Welcome Tracie!

Too bad about Midnight. I know the feeling. I had a light brahma, sweet as you please, but she was officially dubbed a he at twelve weeks.

If you want to add to your flock, there are people selling started chicks on craigslist and possibly some people on this thread that may be able to help. There are actually a TON of birds on Craigslist right now. Just beware, if you use craigslist, research breed standards and gender indications before you go JIC someone tries to be shady.

Also, you don't need to add heat. Chickens do quite a nice job of keeping each other warm in winter. They are like mini heaters wrapped in a plush coat.

 

[Ashdoes]

Big R is supposed to be getting more chicks in August.

 

[gardendufus]

Big R is supposed to be getting more chicks in August.

SHHHHHHHHHH....Don't tell me that!!!

 

[Ashdoes]

SHHHHHHHHHH....Don't tell me that!!!

Lol! I found out by accident and just keep thinking "please don't get EE's!" or I will end up with more chicks. I'm not even sure what kind of chicks they get in. Anyone know?

 

[gardendufus]

Lol! I found out by accident and just keep thinking "please don't get EE's!" or I will end up with more chicks. I'm not even sure what kind of chicks they get in. Anyone know?

Please Please Please.........let's not start this discussion, LOL. Hopefully my 4 new pullets (coming soon to a coop near you) will quench my I want new chickens urge.

Coloradogal......Since water boils at a lower temperature here, maybe extending the time to 20 minutes, or even longer. Have you tried that? Not that I'm hoping you'll do all the testing and come up with a magic number for me or anything like that.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Lol! I found out by accident and just keep thinking "please don't get EE's!" or I will end up with more chicks. I'm not even sure what kind of chicks they get in. Anyone know?

They are actually my last ditch backup plan if Summer can't hatch her eggs for whatever reason. They can't say what they are getting because they order the cheapest way possible. Hatchery choice variety packs. So the salesmen can never tell you what's coming because they never know.

 

[TracieJS]

WK the dominques are pretty but my husband says no more black


Coop is 5x5, 2 5' roosts and 3 external nesting boxes, not insulated. It is raised about 2' off the ground. 2 foot x 11/2 foot window (faces east). I have it out right now but covered part as its windy and rainy.

The girls we just got haven't learned to roost yet ( we have had them three days). They have learned to go in the coop at night but they all crowd into the first nesting box

They did start to perch outside on the large branches 3' x 10' that are in the run today! Whoo! They are 8 weeks old.

I guess if I am cold everyone should be cold. Should I crawl inside and put up board insulation or would a light work? What do you recommend?
Thanks Tracie

 

[ShysCreations]

Below are a couple views of the silkie youngsters going to the Wardle Feed swap. 1 dark buff male, 3 blues, a couple light colored females & males, a bantam cochin pullet & a Blackstar pullet.

 

[wsmith]

WK the dominques are pretty but my husband says no more black

Coop is 5x5, 2 5' roosts and 3 external nesting boxes, not insulated. It is raised about 2' off the ground. 2 foot x 11/2 foot window (faces east). I have it out right now but covered part as its windy and rainy.
The girls we just got haven't learned to roost yet ( we have had them three days). They have learned to go in the coop at night but they all crowd into the first nesting box

They did start to perch outside on the large branches 3' x 10' that are in the run today! Whoo! They are 8 weeks old.
I guess if I am cold everyone should be cold. Should I crawl inside and put up board insulation or would a light work? What do you recommend?
Thanks Tracie

Well, though its a common misconception, Dominiques aren't black......... they are cuckoo barred, dark grey and light grey.

Black Austrolorps are black. LOL

How old are the chicks? I took mine off heat at about 3 weeks. Its warm enough overnight that it isn't needed.