New Chick mama from Idaho

[Slicker chicker]

Hi all, I am a new mama with six 2 week old chicks currently residing on the top floor of my house: Dora (BCM), Elvira (Black Ameraucana), Rhaenyra (Lavender Ameraucana), Helga (Bielefelder), and Olivia and Omega (Blue Orpingtons). At this point I am pretty sure I'm doing everything wrong, and second guessing every decision I make. I bought a pre-fab coop I'm pretty sure is too small. Do I have enough room in my small backyard? Is Dora really Donald? I bought chicks in late August and now worry about winter. They are already HUGE for their puppy playpen...should I move them to the henhouse outside? Am I raising them right? Will they like me?

I am in my mid-50s and moved to northern Idaho 4 years ago from a mediterranean climate, so chicken keeping in snow has me a bit worried. I'm no newbie to animals and livestock, I had chickens when I was young, owned amazon parrots for years, owned and trained horses most of my life and still ride regularly. I also have my dogs and used to show obedience and agility. But, somehow these little monsters are different, so needy, and they just don't behave at all!

So...I just want to say a big Thank You to everyone on here and all the amazing information and advice.

Hi! I’m Sara. I too, live in north Idaho. I’m fairly new to chickens as well. I started last year in March or so. I’d had them years ago, but this time, I’m more mature and love them! Winters are rough, but we did ok last year. I put Vaseline on my chickens with the big combs and I bought the water heater thing from tractor supply (the one you put the metal waterer on.) I did keep a heat lamp on in their coop, but it didn’t heat it, just helped keep the chill out some. Welcome to byc!