Raising fall chicks experience

[Predoggg]

I was not sure if it is a good idea to order day old chicks in fall but so far I love it. Also found an article why it is good to raise fall hatches and now like to share my experience.
We did not had to make to many changes with raising the chicks indoor before moving them outside. We delayed the move outside a little based on the weather. Integration with the existing flock was also pretty easy once they were big enough. They were able to get the last bugs of the year.

The great advantage with fall chickens is that when the older ones or the spring hatches stop laying for their molt, the fall chicks finishing to mature and may start laying. We have the first ones right now laying their first eggs while we normally do not get any eggs. Really enjoying the fall chicks starting to lay right now and not going through a molt.


The breeds I raised were:

• Giant Jersey
• Light Brama
• Olive Egger
• Black Copper Maran
• Blue Copper Maran
• Blue (BBS) Birchen Maran
• Rhode Island Red Rooster
• Speckled Sussex

We will see how the mixed flock is going to be over the time. We mostly got our chicks in spring and not fall. Nice that the fall chicks do not molt and even start laying in winter when the others are molting.

 

[DLA]

That's awesome! I also ordered chicks late. Mine are just 8 weeks old now but I have options where I can keep them till they are prepared to go outside since I got delayed in ordering them with a setback on my new coop/run build. I got Rhode Island Blue, Silver laced Wyandotte, Gold laced Wyandotte, Barred Rock, Easter Egger, Olive Egger. Here are mine - https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-chicks-are-here.1644658/page-2#post-28199552

Would love to see pictures of your flock if you want to share!

 

[Predoggg]

I can make pictures of them later and post them here. Your chickens look great. I had to get chicks because Raccoons, Possums, Hawks etc. nearly destroyed the existing flock and I was left with 4.

 

[DLA]

I can make pictures of them later and post them here. Your chickens look great. I had to get chicks because Raccoons, Possums, Hawks etc. nearly destroyed the existing flock and I was left with 4.

Aw that's sad that the predators got them. I got more because RIR pretty much do most of their laying in the first few years and mine are 2 1/2 now and starting to slow down a little. I haven't decided if the new coop and run will be their retirement coop or I'll just leave them where they are and put the new ones in the new coop and run. We have a lot of predators also, it's tough to keep them safe. I take mine on supervised walks almost every day, weather permitting, but I'm retired so I have time to do that. If I just let them free range they wouldn't last a week.
I look forward to seeing your flock!