How long before chicks can make it through winter?

[kathyanne]

Hello, I normally buy my baby chicks in early spring, but due to travel plans this year I may want to get a new flock in mid-summer (end of June). We have had no problem with chickens making it through our bitter western Wisconsin winters when they are at least 8 - 9 months old, but what about if they are only 5 - 6 months old? We don't heat or insulate the coop, just make sure they have plenty of straw and no drafts. Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks!

PS: I usually get sex-linked, heavy body layers.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I don't have your bitter winters, so I can't speak from personal experience. However, I do know that 5 to 6 month old hens are fully feathered and generally mature. So, there should be no problem as long as you have a coop that is sheltered out of the weather.

Chickens are pretty good at adapting to cold weather as long as they have a draft free place to hang out.

BTW: The *real* answer to your question...how old? I have broody hens. I have had them hatch in freezing rain/ice storms with wind chill to teens and several inches of ice on top of inches of snow. They had the babes out in the covered run by day 2. The little darlings ran around in their down jackets using momma as an occasional warming hutch. So...chicks don't need tons of heat lamp heat to mature. You might consider the heating pad method, mimicking a brooding hen, to bringing these to earlier "hardening" than heating lamps. My broody raised mature and harden much faster than incubator raised. Just a thought.

 

[kathyanne]

Thanks so much! Kathy