Need help ordering chicks. Update: Got em...Pics Added!

[Chickenaddict]

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I guess it depends on how harsh your winters are. Me being from MN the winter temps are feeling more and more like the north pole so i wait to put mine out until they are about 4 months old or so but thats just me.

 

[Chicky Joy]

Quote:
I guess it depends on how harsh your winters are. Me being from MN the winter temps are feeling more and more like the north pole so i wait to put mine out until they are about 4 months old or so but thats just me.

Where on earth would I keep a group of chicks that size? Our winters get fairly cold (northern Michigan). I'm thinking I'd like to put them outside at around 8-9 weeks. Would that be reasonable? That would be the third week of October. Not too cold outside then, chilly at night though.

 

[Heather J]

I'd say it depends on what kind of facilities you have for them in the coop or other location. I prefer to move them out to the coop after a couple of weeks, but I had room and it was plenty warm there. I found it's the easiest way and just blocked off a section under the nest boxes for them until they outgrew the space. It has the added advantage of allowing the older and younger birds to grow comfortable with each other well in advance.

 

[swampducks]

I live just south of Alpena in northern MI and mine are going into the coop when they are probably 6 weeks old assuming that's a good size similar to the ones who will be 4 months old at that time. (I can't remember already how big my others were at 6 weeks!)

My coop is not insulated though it has electricity in case I need a heat lamp this winter. It does have a large windbreak of trees though between it and the northwest winds.

What kind of chicks? I got mine from Meyer too.

 

[josh_bigler]

i put mine out when they are week and a half to 2 weeks old during summer, have not lost any that way, and winter usually around 1 month, but we dont have cold winters, maybe the lowest 15 but not often! and they do just fine

 

[Chicky Joy]

I plan on getting Black Sex Links. Not very many, only 4-6. My biggest issue at the moment is trying to decide what to use as an intermediate location (outside but not in with my older hens). That is the current topic of thought. I'm not sure how I would be able to block off a section of the coop and/or run. I don't know what I'll do, some sort of chicken tractor or what.

 

[LauraSBale]

I start mine in the basement, then when they were about 3 weeks old they went in the garage, during the day i had no heat lamp on them, and the garage door open to get sunlight and after a couple days being in the garage, i would just have the garage light on them at night and they did fine. then at 4 weeks they were in the coop. for winter raising, they would need heat all the time.

i got my egg girls vac, w/ the marek's. and mixed 1/2 med to 1/2 non med. i have never lost any, Knock on Wood LOL

and our meat were feed non. and we lost 6 out of 16. and some of them got pasting, and we just ordered more meat, so this time i will do the same for them 1/2 and 1/2, of the feed, for 2 weeks.

though i think a couple were heart attacks.

 

[Chicky Joy]

These chicks would be 13 weeks around Thanksgiving. We don't typically get too cold until January. No real snow until later in the year the last number of years as well. I'm just wanting to be sure they'd be ready to move to the coop before too late in the year.

 

[Chicky Joy]

Well I ordered 6 black star chicks. Wish me luck!

 

[Chickenaddict]

Awww how cool good luck to you

and congrats on your new babies.