Getting chicks - couple questions

[ChickCluck]

Ok, here goes.

We're planning on getting chicks within the next 2 weeks (approx). They would be between 1 day and 1 week old. (We're going to drive to pick them up, not ship them)

Then, they'll be in the brooder August - November. By November, they'll be around 4 months old. Will they be fine in the coop then?

December around here is usually snow. Is this going to be too much of a shock to their little systems? Or will they adjust if we put them in the coop little by little, once they are fully feathered?

Lastly, will a heat lamp be warm enough all winter?

Thanks for any tips!

 

[TXmom]

You will LOVE your new chickies!!!!

I put my chicks outside at about 7 weeks (in March)...you will not BELIEVE how fast they grow!!! I had 17 chicks, and that was way too many to have in the house after 2 months old. Plus, I think it would be a shock if you had them in a heated house and then put them out in the cold... In my opinion, it would be better if you put them out in late Sept/ early Oct and let them get used to the cooling weather. They will be fully feathered by then and should be just fine. They can handle cold better than they can handle my extreme TX heat...

 

[rhodiegal]

Like TXmom said - you will probably have them out of the brooder before then. You will know when it is time - they just get to big and wild. As long as they are feathered out - even in cold weather they will be fine.

I put mine out in the shed at about 3 - 4 weeks old with their normal heat lamp. At that time it was about 40's at night and low 80's during the day as far as I remember. I just made sure the shed was snake proof - stuffing towels in any cracks. I opened up the run to the outside area maybe a week or two after but closed them in a night (worried about chick eating snakes).

Have fun