Maturing Chicks

[DobieClose]

My 7 chicks are now 14 and 15 weeks old (calculated wrong on another thread). They're all healthy and have always lived in moderate weather. The only real hiccup I've had is the one that turned out to be a Rooster.
I have no idea about broodiness (except in my kids), laying, cold weather, diseases...etc...
I don't even know why I don't want them to go broody. I'm an Innocent here.
And Winter is coming.

 

[DobieLover]

Your chicks aren't chicks anymore. They are pullets and a cockerel. They are no longer referred to as chicks once fully feathered and off heat.
At one year old they will be hens and a rooster.

Most people don't want their hens to go broody because when they do that they stop laying eggs. And it can be a pain in the rear to break them.

Provided your coop offers at least 3.5 to 4 sq ft of floor space per bird, you have as close to 1 sq ft of ventilation per bird in your coop and the roosting area is protected from drafts strong enough to open up their feathers, your birds will generally do quite well during the winter.
When the temperature gets extremely cold such as lower than -20F, roosters and hens with large single combs will often suffer frostbite regardless of how good your ventilation is.

Keeping water thought during winter can be a hassle if you don't have power to your coop/run.
Having a run with a solid roof is extremely useful in cold weather so the bird still have a place to go outside and enjoy the fresh air when there's snow on the ground that's too deep for them to navigate.

 

[DobieClose]

Your chicks aren't chicks anymore. They are pullets and a cockerel. They are no longer referred to as chicks once fully feathered and off heat.
At one year old they will be hens and a rooster.

Most people don't want their hens to go broody because when they do that they stop laying eggs. And it can be a pain in the rear to break them.

Provided your coop offers at least 3.5 to 4 sq ft of floor space per bird, you have as close to 1 sq ft of ventilation per bird in your coop and the roosting area is protected from drafts strong enough to open up their feathers, your birds will generally do quite well during the winter.
When the temperature gets extremely cold such as lower than -20F, roosters and hens with large single combs will often suffer frostbite regardless of how good your ventilation is.

Keeping water thought during winter can be a hassle if you don't have power to your coop/run.
Having a run with a solid roof is extremely useful in cold weather so the bird still have a place to go outside and enjoy the fresh air when there's snow on the ground that's too deep for them to navigate.

Thanks.
My coop is in my garage with a door to the outside where they free range all dy on 1/2 acre. Will they want to go outside all day in the snow too?

 

[DobieLover]

Thanks.
My coop is in my garage with a door to the outside where they free range all dy on 1/2 acre. Will they want to go outside all day in the snow too?

They will want to go outside when it's cold yes. My first year birds didn't mind going out in the snow but once I built the run with a covered roof they quickly changed their tune.

It's hard to come out in stuff like this so this is where the covered run with tarps up for wind protection come in to play.

 

[DobieClose]

They will want to go outside when it's cold yes. My first year birds didn't mind going out in the snow but once I built the run with a covered roof they quickly changed their tune.
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It's hard to come out in stuff like this so this is where the covered run with tarps up for wind protection come in to play.
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Looks so nice. I love snow.