Raising Chicks in Winter

[Trodore]

Hello,

I wanted some advice on raising chicks.

I have just pulled the trigger on my first flock. I picked up a barnyard mix locally. I love the fact that I have chickens, but I am not sold on these chickens. I thought about using these for meat and hatching my own or buying chicks. My concern is that if I started at the end of August, it would be deep into winter by the time they are 6 months. I live in Mid-Michigan and it can get pretty bad here with wind chills. Last year we had actually lows down to -20 and -30 for a week. So my question is can the young chickens handle this? If I got eggs at the end of August, they would not hatch until September, I figure 3 months in the brooder so that means November in the coops. So they would be 6 months in February. January and February is the really tough months up here. So what would I need to do to help them through the tough times, or should I just want for spring?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Here is a thread from a fellow Michiganer or whatever you call yourselves. Michiganite? Michiganian? It’s not exactly your topic but you may find it informative.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/947046/broody-in-michigan-winter

Three months in the brooder? I don’t think so! I know my weather is not as cold as yours but I regularly turn the heat off after five weeks with the temps around freezing. My 3’ x 6’ brooder is in the coop but I only heat one end. The rest can cool off as much as it will. Sometimes there is ice in the far end, but the end the chicks are on is toasty. Mine will play on the colder end after they get some age on them so mine are acclimated and can handle freezing temperatures at five weeks. If yours are raised in tropical conditions the transition could be harder on them.

There is no doubt raising chicks in the winter is a little harder. Something that is just an inconvenience in summer could turn deadly in really freezing temperatures. A lot of us do it. I put chicks straight out of the incubator into my brooder in the coop even if the temperatures re below freezing. You can manage if you want to. Or you can wait until spring.

 

[azygous]

Chickens, including baby chicks, are hardy and durable critters. Don't underestimate them!

For a different perspective on raising chicks to be cold hardened, see the thread "Mama heating pad in the Brooder" thread on this forum.

Some of us employed this new system of brooding chicks outdoors under sub-freezing temps for the first time this year, and we have documented out experiences with it on this thread. Spoiler: all positive!

 

[Trodore]

This really is great news. I guess I do look at them as cute little babies that need my protection lol. I may try it this winter. I would love to be hatching eggs from a breeding flock next spring. Thank you all so much for the links and advice.

 

[Bryam]

You will have to keep them warm, chicks are not as strong as adult chickens. They can't handle the freezing temps the same. I hatched silkies at the end of August, the chicks were not big enough by the end of October to deal with the cold. It is much easier to hatch during the summer months, the birds are bigger and stronger, more able to take the cold.

Just my experience with -30 winters in Canada.

Good Luck!