Surviving Minnesota!

[BantyChooks]

I'm sold. If I can find each color option, maybe I'd do them exclusively.

Do you suppose it's best to wait until spring to start the flock at this point?

Great. I know Ralphie has Partridge, and nice ones too... The whites I'm unsure of a good source on.

I'd wait til spring. It's rather late in the year for chicks, and you get 10 more months of time to prepare and research your chosen breed. Or maybe it's just OCD me that does that.

Either way.... If you get chicks after August, you might well end up with frostbite trouble all winter. I did---last year I hatched August 22 and they ended up getting frostbite bad enough one nearly died and the other one would have if she hadn't been indoors for cocci treatment.

 

[Tfred1399]

Great. I know Ralphie has Partridge, and nice ones too... The whites I'm unsure of a good source on.

I'd wait til spring. It's rather late in the year for chicks, and you get 10 more months of time to prepare and research your chosen breed. Or maybe it's just OCD me that does that.

Either way.... If you get chicks after August, you might well end up with frostbite trouble all winter. I did---last year I hatched August 22 and they ended up getting frostbite bad enough one nearly died and the other one would have if she hadn't been indoors for cocci treatment.

That was my thought-and preference- wait till spring with chicks. I'm a little hesitant to get started birds, but open to that idea. Thoughts on started birds?

 

[Bogtown Chick]

You could look for some started pullets. It takes about 6-7 weeks to feather out a chick. I find chicks also get more socialized to you than a started bird. You probably don't want to get too far past August on chicks.
Other more advanced BYCers have commented on the healthiness of spring chicks raised in the summer sun. For me, for my Grandma it was Mid April to get chicks. Then you have some fall eggs too.

 

[BantyChooks]

That was my thought-and preference- wait till spring with chicks. I'm a little hesitant to get started birds, but open to that idea. Thoughts on started birds?

Started birds are great. If you locate a good breeder who sells started stock, you'll be able to get better birds than when you buy chicks.

 

[Tfred1399]

You could look for some started pullets. It takes about 6-7 weeks to feather out a chick. I find chicks also get more socialized to you than a started bird. You probably don't want to get too far past August on chicks.
Other more advanced BYCers have commented on the healthiness of spring chicks raised in the summer sun. For me, for my Grandma it was Mid April to get chicks. Then you have some fall eggs too.

I used to manage a feed store/co-op. Chick season was typically April-June. That was kind of my plan. I still need to build a coop anyway. But I wouldn't mind maybe getting a couple of pullets to get going.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Also it sounds like your coop isn't quite ready yet?

 

[BantyChooks]

You could look for some started pullets. It takes about 6-7 weeks to feather out a chick. I find chicks also get more socialized to you than a started bird. You probably don't want to get too far past August on chicks.
Other more advanced BYCers have commented on the healthiness of spring chicks raised in the summer sun. For me, for my Grandma it was Mid April to get chicks. Then you have some fall eggs too.

I like April the best for chicks too. March chicks means it's still freezing when you go to put them outside... If you get them mid April, when they're ready to go outside it's May and then they don't need as much heat.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

You guys type fast. Lol


I'm lagging. Yeah get the coop well thought out. Then get your birds in the spring.
I've had some started birds with lice and mite companions. So another reason to do chicks...

 

[BantyChooks]

You guys type fast. Lol


I'm lagging. Yeah get the coop well thought out. Then get your birds in the spring.
I've had some started birds with lice and mite companions. So another reason to do chicks...

Gotta be a speedy typer on these threads, eh.

 

[Tfred1399]

Also it sounds like your coop isn't quite ready yet?

Not at all. A project for the next couple of weeks.