If this should be posted under baby chicks, please let me know.
We raise meat chickens and sell at a farmers market. We are new to all this- last year was our first year selling (third year raising meaties). We are in the foothills of NC mountains. About 1200 feet, zone 6b or so...
Chicken sells so well that I want to have some as soon as possible for market. Inspired by the warmish winter I have ordered Freedom Rangers to arrive in Mid March.
My thought was that they would be in the brooder for two weeks or so then moved out to a hoop house on pasture with a lamp in it.
Am I crazy? I am suddenly wondering if this is nuts. If it snows in march or otherwise decides suddenly to be winter what the heck am I going to do with these chicks?!?! Surely April first is ok. Our average last frost date is around mid April. This sint North dakota after all- am I over reacting?
The hoop house design is as follows-
12 wide
20 long
6 tall
hoops, wire, tarp on top and sides, open front with door.
about six inches of wood shavings on the ground.
In normal circumstances we open the door in the AM and close up at night. Fenced yard for strolling around.
If we suddenly get a cold snap will a heat lamp hanging down in this house and mostly closing up the open front (another tarp? plywood?) be enough?
These are freedom rangers so they are a little scrappier than CX, but not THAT much scrappier. Am I being overly optimistic here?
This winter has totally skewed my sense of weather.
We raise meat chickens and sell at a farmers market. We are new to all this- last year was our first year selling (third year raising meaties). We are in the foothills of NC mountains. About 1200 feet, zone 6b or so...
Chicken sells so well that I want to have some as soon as possible for market. Inspired by the warmish winter I have ordered Freedom Rangers to arrive in Mid March.
My thought was that they would be in the brooder for two weeks or so then moved out to a hoop house on pasture with a lamp in it.
Am I crazy? I am suddenly wondering if this is nuts. If it snows in march or otherwise decides suddenly to be winter what the heck am I going to do with these chicks?!?! Surely April first is ok. Our average last frost date is around mid April. This sint North dakota after all- am I over reacting?

The hoop house design is as follows-
12 wide
20 long
6 tall
hoops, wire, tarp on top and sides, open front with door.
about six inches of wood shavings on the ground.
In normal circumstances we open the door in the AM and close up at night. Fenced yard for strolling around.
If we suddenly get a cold snap will a heat lamp hanging down in this house and mostly closing up the open front (another tarp? plywood?) be enough?
These are freedom rangers so they are a little scrappier than CX, but not THAT much scrappier. Am I being overly optimistic here?
This winter has totally skewed my sense of weather.
