We've wanted some backyard chickens for many years and were finally able to pick up our first chicks today! Two silkies, which I believe are buff, and two smooth sizzles, one black and one that might be white or maybe lavender? So cute I forgot to ask. We also have (human) kids and they are in love as well. The chicks seem fine so far but I'm still nervously checking them (a whole seven feet away in a clear tub!).
They're two weeks old. The temperature here gets chilly but not too bad, the lowest average being 45 degrees F for about two months (Dec/Jan). No snow, not too much rain, we do get a bit of wind but we have a decent 6 foot tall wooden fence around a smallish yard. I'm building a wooden coop that will stay next to our house, under a roof overhang of about 2 feet. Should I plan on letting the chickens out this winter when they'd otherwise be ready, or should I just keep them in our garage until it starts warming up? They would have room to run in there but no sunlight or grass.
Thanks for your help! Husband and I have learned a lot already from reading BYC in preparation.
I'll try to get a good picture or two up tomorrow.
They're two weeks old. The temperature here gets chilly but not too bad, the lowest average being 45 degrees F for about two months (Dec/Jan). No snow, not too much rain, we do get a bit of wind but we have a decent 6 foot tall wooden fence around a smallish yard. I'm building a wooden coop that will stay next to our house, under a roof overhang of about 2 feet. Should I plan on letting the chickens out this winter when they'd otherwise be ready, or should I just keep them in our garage until it starts warming up? They would have room to run in there but no sunlight or grass.
Thanks for your help! Husband and I have learned a lot already from reading BYC in preparation.
I'll try to get a good picture or two up tomorrow.
