September Chicks

[ninjawesome]

I am new to raising chickens but have done a lot of research about which breeds are cold hearty, how to raise chicks, and things like that. I am planning on getting my chicks in the first week of September from a local store. I have an insulated coop, but I live in Northern Utah. Temperatures can get down to about 5 degrees F in the winter.

Do you guys think it's fine for me to raise them to hen-hood through the Fall/Winter, or would you say I should wait 'til Spring? Any tips on how to raise them through Fall/Winter? Thanks.

 

[Chicken Girl1]

So will they be outside from baby-babies to grown up you will put them outside to live when?

 

[dheltzel]

You won't have any problems from the temps with Sept chicks. They feather out fast and seem to do so even faster when cold temps are starting. Keep them warm (inside or with heat available) until they are about 4 weeks old, or fully feathered on their chests and backs. But try to get them weaned to the outdoors w/ no heat as soon as possible. As the weather cools, they will adapt gradually to the cooler temps and be fully winter hardy when the really cold weather arrives.

 

[tdepointe]

I agree with dheltzel and would add I have started chick the last week of Sept here in north east CT with no issues.

 

[ninjawesome]

I am planning on slowly weaning them into the cooler Fall temps. First my house, then maybe the basement, after that the garage, then the coop, all of this in about 5-10 weeks.

 

[Chicken Girl1]

Sounds great

 

[ninjawesome]

Awesome. Thanks to everyone's replies!

 

[lexielou623]

My oldest chick is 6 weeks and my youngest 2 1/2 weeks. I live in Phoenix, AZ though so our winters are VERY mild. I'm hoping to get some eggs this winter.