Is it too late this year to get started?

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hippchken

hippchken

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Aug 12, 2015
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Hello all! I am new to the whole backyard chicken venture. I recently bought a coop, and everything (I think) I need for raising a small flock of 3-5 hens. I planned on starting with pullets, rather than chicks or older hens. But, now on the preface of purchasing the chickens that I have so looked forward to all summer, I am wondering ... am I too late getting started this year? Would I be better off to wait until next spring/early summer? Honesty is always appreciated! Thanks.
 
I don't think it is too late. I am in sort of the same boat. I am getting my babies (5-7 weeks old) mid September. I think alot depends on what your weather is like. I live in NC Our winters don't tend to get very cold til november/december. Even then it is rare for us to have extended periods of cold below zero. By that time my girls should be old enough and large enough to generate enough heat. I am sure others with actual experience will chime in. :)
 
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My friends are getting their chicks in mid September also so I don't think its to late :).
 
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Welcome to Backyard chickens. If we knew what area of the country you are in, we could give you better advice about ' get them now/ or wait till spring.' You may want to post on your state thread and ask their opinion and also what breeds do best in your climate, etc.
 
hippchken said:
Hello all! I am new to the whole backyard chicken venture. I recently bought a coop, and everything (I think) I need for raising a small flock of 3-5 hens. I planned on starting with pullets, rather than chicks or older hens. But, now on the preface of purchasing the chickens that I have so looked forward to all summer, I am wondering ... am I too late getting started this year? Would I be better off to wait until next spring/early summer? Honesty is always appreciated! Thanks.
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Just a word of warning. Prefab coops will only house half of what they claim to. If a coop claims to house 3-5 birds, then it's probably only going to house 3 medium sized breeds at most. It might hold 2 dual-purpose breeds.
The average medium sized hen needs about 4 sq ft of coop space and 10 sq ft of run space. Large breeds need more room. Bantam breeds need less. Nest boxes should not be included when calculating a coop's square footage.
Since you already have your coop, you need to choose your chickens based on what you can comfortably house. If you can find a few young pullets, I don't see why you shouldn't get them, as long as you keep your space limitations in mind.
 
As far as climate, I should have mentioned, I'm in Virginia. Also, I appreciate the advice on coop size. My coop isn't a prefab one. It was made by hand, though not by me. I only made a few modifications. I have done my homework, though. I have been reading books and articles, and of course checking out BACKYARDCHICKENS.COM even before my membership. So, although a beginner, I'm not going into this completely blind. It just seems so late in the year to be starting, even with pullets vs. chicks. But I am soooo looking forward to it!
 
hippchken said:
As far as climate, I should have mentioned, I'm in Virginia. Also, I appreciate the advice on coop size. My coop isn't a prefab one. It was made by hand, though not by me. I only made a few modifications. I have done my homework, though. I have been reading books and articles, and of course checking out BACKYARDCHICKENS.COM even before my membership. So, although a beginner, I'm not going into this completely blind. It just seems so late in the year to be starting, even with pullets vs. chicks. But I am soooo looking forward to it!
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Not too late at all. I'm in PA and last fall I hatched chicks up to the end of October and not a single one died from the cold (some didn't make it out of the basement, but that was my own fault and corrected since). It can be hard to find even chicks this time of year, let alone started pullets.

I think getting chicks this time of year is perfect, they don't need long in a brooder because of the warm temps and they will adjust to the cold gradually as fall cools them off. They should come into lay in late winter or early spring, just when you don't have to worry about the eggs freezing while you are at work.
 
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

You can get pullets any time of year as long you know you might have to keep them in their brooder a bit longer since it'll be colder this time of year.
 

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