How early in the season can I start?

[birds4kids]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors

If using the "Mama heating pad" and "red broilers" from Purely Poultry how soon do you think I could order here near Green Bay weather wise.

The Red Broilers are supposed to be 6-7lbs in 9-10 weeks, seem like less work than Cornish Cross, no feed restrictions, better feathering for the cold tolerance?

I would probably start them in the unheated garage for a week or two to give extra wind and chill protection, before moving them to a tractor on the garden.

I was thinking of ordering for early to mid February.

Reasonable or not? Another factor might be count, thinking 15-20. I have an just shy of an acre and neighbors for now so I can't get too carried away.

 

[birds4kids]

That bad an idea? I rather be told I am doing something wrong before making the mistake.

 

[keesmom]

Given your location, starting them that early isn't something I would do. At least if you want to pasture them for some length of time. They would be ready for the freezer long before the snow is gone.

I skip raising meaties in the spring, instead opting for a batch in the fall. They arrive in August when it is still hot. Heat is most often not necessary (and saves on the electric bill). By the time it does get chilly they are fully feathered. They go off to the freezer before winter chill sets in.

 

[MamaHubbard]

I'm contemplating doing meaties for the first time, and I'm near GB too! Anyway, I'm thinking of ordering chicks in late April, keeping them in the garage under lights till they are big enough to be safely outside, with butchering near end june, beginning July, leaving enough time to do a second round before it gets too cold. A friend/neighbor of mine did that last year and it worked out good. Just a thought.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

April seems reasonable. I don't know where GB is or where original poster is from. If you talking Great Britain then I'd think you can easily start a batch in March with the aid of coastal air. I'm inland in mountains of New England, no aid of warm coastal air. The earliest I start chicks is late March. Some years that works well others they are outgrowing the brooder as awaiting break in the weather. End of April is the earliest birds go outside here. I aim to get birds outside in 4 weeks. Some springs that lingers to 5 weeks. If brooding in may they are outside in 3 weeks.

 

[birds4kids]

Green Bay WI, -2f right now

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Yup, climate zone 3a, same as me in NEK of VT, central VT is zone 3b like West of you in Wausau. High today of 14F, low tonight of -2. My birds go outside end of April, I start hatching late March into early May. Three hatches each spring with the earliest late March. You may have an earlier spring though due to that water mass your on.

 

[birds4kids]

Three weeks ago I got a dozen Cornish Rock from TSC, in the garage(unheated doors open whenever we are home) in a kiddie pool with elevated sides and a top.
They are fine temp wise. At first they spent a lot of time under the Premier panel heater but now few seem to spend time under it, on top and near sure, but not under. Hope to have them outdoors this weekend.