Hi Chicken Lovers

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Hatching
5 Years
Jul 8, 2014
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I am not a chicken owner yet but am very interested in becoming one. In the meantime I am trying to find out as much as I can about getting and keeping chickens. We live near the top of a mountain and are a little concerned about temperatures in the winter. Do we create an overnight place in our - very small, no electricity - barn for the chickens or will they be ok in an outside coop? Can we leave enough food for a couple of days if we have to go out of town? Should we wait until Spring to get baby chickens rather than before winter sets in? These are just a couple of the questions I have. In the meantime I am sure I will enjoy reading everyone's adventures in chicken keeping.
 
My brother created a very nice area in his barn for his flock.......but do what is best for your future flock! There is a wealth of information on BYC! It takes time to sort through all the information and experiences. Love it! :love
I've not had baby chicks yet but there's bound to be tons of information on that subjec!

And of course :welcome
 
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What is your climate like? If it is mild, you could get chicks at any time. Even if you get some now they would likely be old enough to be outside before your cold days arrive.
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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You might want to stop by our learning center. Lots of these questions will be answered there for you....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

Enjoy this new adventure you are on and welcome to our flock!
 
Hi and welcome to BYC
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. You asked some really good questions. If you plan on getting day old chicks they need to be kept under a heat lamp @ 90 Degrees F for they first week and 85 for the second week. 80 for the third week and 75 for the fourth week. Fifth week they can be outside provided the overnight temps don't get too cold. I would recommend getting day old chicks as this will give you plenty of time to bond with your birds so they can come to trust you and not be afraid of you. They are called chickens because they are exactly that, chicken. They need time to get to know you and trust you. Good luck in your endeavor and this is really the place to be for advice.
 
Welcome to BYC! Your chickens will be okay in either the barn or a coop as long as it's dry and draft free (particularly if they are cold hardy breeds). Also be sure that their shelter is predator proof. You can leave enough food for a couple of days if you go out of town, but it would be better if you have a friend or good neighbor who could drop by & check on them while you're gone. Also, you need to make sure they have plenty of fresh water available for those two days. If your area has cold winters, it would be best to get your chicks in the spring or early summer so they will have plenty of time to feather well before winter sets in. Hope this helps. Good luck in getting your flock.
 

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