complexity
Hatching
I'm fairly new to the wide world of chickens and I was wondering if there is a specific time of the year where it is better to raise the chicks..
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LOLTo me it is best to not brood chicks in the house. That’s personal preference, many people do and enjoy brooding them inside. But with the dust, noise, and potential smell I have a much better chance of staying married if I brood them outside. My brooder is built into the coop. I’ve put chicks straight from the incubator to that brooder when the outside temperatures were below freezing. But the risks are higher in colder weather. A power outage or other mishap can be disastrous in brutal weather while in better weather it would maybe be an inconvenience. Many people are more willing to put the chicks outside in nice weather as opposed to tough weather. In nicer weather you can move chicks raised in your house outside earlier than you can if the temperatures are brutal. Not knowing where you are I don’t know how bad your winters really are.
Thank you so much! Very helpful! My family moved into a house and there are two coops. The people we bought it from left some of their chickens with us. She also left some basic care books for me that I've read up on. So I am going to be going through my hens when I'm ready determining whose laying and whose not to replace them with young chicks who will produce once old enough. Wish me luck! Thanks again!For someone just starting out, I'd recommend that you spend the winter reading and gaining as much knowledge as possible, getting your coop and brooder ready, then start your chicks early in the spring. Suggested reading: The small flock poultry keeper by Harvey Ussery., And the following articles or topics on BYC: "Yes you certainly can brood chicks outdoors", Fermented feed, Deep litter, Hatching eggs 101 (if you're interested in incubating to get your chicks!) Any and all of the excellent articles in the learning center about brooding chicks, raising chickens, incubation... Plenty to keep you on a steep learning curve through the winter. Also, check out "Henderson's chicken breeds thread."