Should I reconsider?

[FortCluck]

Both. We added new chicks this past spring along with 7 or so older laying hens. Now we have several that are laying fertilized eggs. We do a have a barn and yes, I am aware of the mess young birds create. I guess getting rid of the chicks we don't want might be more challenging in the winter too, so that's something I didn't consider.

I would wait because not a lot of people have the ability to raise chicks in the winter.

I crossed my chickens to make dual purpose birds for meat and for eggs so the ones that I am not going to use as layers I am going to use them for meat for my family.

I'm going to keep some of my pullets in sell them at point of lay in the spring...

If you can find people that would want to buy them then go for it, but it's kind of hard in the winter.

 

[Gray Farms]

Just wait. Little chicks in the winter are not fun. If your heat source would quit your chicks won't last long.

 

[FortCluck]

Agree with the above Kiki and FortCluck, I will be waiting until closer to spring and I am further south than you are. Spend some time setting up your incubator and checking it. It only takes 21 days for them to hatch so make sure you have some place to put them once they feather out(4-5 weeks after hatch). Good luck...

unless you make monster chickens like I did and they are almost fully feathered at 19 days

 

[Ted_Harrell]

Good one, show em the pics!

 

[FortCluck]

I'm not sure if you already have an incubator, but listen to @Kiki about incubators because she really helped my last hatch and this hatch I'm on is going to be very successful with the information she gave me.

Good luck with everything!

 

[FortCluck]

Forgot to ask something...

What breeds do you have?

 

[chickens really]

Definitely waiting is best. Fertile now they always will be fertile. Spring is best so you can have a Broody doing all the work for you..

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I guess getting rid of the chicks we don't want might be more challenging in the winter too, so that's something I didn't consider.

That's true... but it can also be easier because no one else has them. Much depends on your breed and it's popularity.

Barn yard cross... meh, lucky if you can give them away or get $1/chick. Silkies or Marans... sell all day every day it seems (in my area).. and for not less than $10 per straight run chick. I sold as fast as I could hatch all year long... just using craigslist farm and garden section... You could try taking orders as well... like "Christmas" or New Years hatching dates... something folks can connect with.

Lots of competition as far as finding homes once spring does hit when most folks can get purebred, sexed, NPIP chicks from the feed store for $3-4... and lots of back yarders flooding the market as well, either with their birds or with hatchery ordered pullets. Maybe play around and find out what works for you and your community as well.

Just food for thought.

Hope you have a fantastic chickeneering adventure!

ETA: power outages mentioned are a reality here... and an excellent consideration! I do think others are giving fantastic, wise advice! My only thing is, perfection isn't required to have fun and life does find a way.

 

[cibula11]

Forgot to ask something...

What breeds do you have?

A little of everything at this point. RIR, buff orpingtons, americauna, red star, black astralorp, barred rock and leg horns. We have 3 silkie roosters (2 were suppose to be hens) and our big rooster is a buff orpington.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Hi! I'm from southern Iowa. I'm hatching now. I just hatched out 20 Ayam Cemani they'll be in the basement for a while and then out to the insulated room in our shop. So it depends on where you have to put them. What part of Iowa are you in?