I am seeing that most supply places offer chicks through May, which means if we want chickens this year, I will need to place an order soon. We have plans for a coop, but no actual coop yet. How many weeks will the chicks be inside our house in a brooder? In other words, once the babies arrive, how long will we have to get their outdoor home & yard ready for them? Thanks!!!
Depends on weather and how feathered out they are....We were able to put ours out at 5 & 6 wks. Before that they were in the garage in a brooder at about 3wks and did fine. I'm sure others with more experience will weigh in on this subject, but I know you need to be sure they are feathered out!
michellerene, Some breeds take a little longer to be fully feathered. It's best to wait until then, usually around 6 to 8 weeks old. Peeps can become chilled otherwise. Best to wait that long in my opinion. bigzio