Deadline for new coop and flock?

[witeowl]

Probably the wrong forum, but I can't figure out where to put it.

We're getting ready to build a coop in our northern Nevada community. (High Desert: a far cry from Las Vegas.) We have no birds right now. I'd like to get a couple of bantam pullets before this winter. (I'm assuming I can still get pullets over the next few months???) I'd rather not start with more than two, but I will if they need more friends to cuddle with for warmth.

So, what is the deadline we're facing? We get snow every winter (typically not "much"), and will generally have lows in the 20's (overnight) during that time, with days hovering in the 40's. November has lows/highs around 25/53, October has lows/highs around 32/68. We normally don't see snow before December, but snow in October is not unheard of.

If it matters, we're making Dennis's Playhouse Coop. I'd rather stay away from electric heating, instead adding some insulation along the roof (we're also adding ventilation at both ends of the coop at the roofline - I'm not sure why Dennis didn't do so) and maybe some bales of hay along one side of the coop. Of course, I'll be using some heavy-duty plastic over the wire to add some insulation/weather resistance to the run.

Long story short: (sorry!) By when do we have to have the coop finished and have the hens out in the coop/run so they can begin acclimatizing before winter hits?

Thanks for any comments and input - even if you see a different flaw in my plan.

 

[pkeeler]

I don't know if you can get chicks in the Fall.

You can certainly put chicks in a brooder in the house or garage (watch the temp) for 4-8 weeks while you build the coop. In fact, with the swings in temp you are talking about, you might want them in the house until 4+ weeks old unless you will be supplying heat and AC.

If you ordered for Sept. (if that is possible), then kept them in a brooder until mid-Oct., that would give you 2 1/2 months to build the coop.