Too late to start chicks in NH?

[Wintersun]

Hi,
I've had chickens in the past and want to get some more. I'd prefer to get chicks so I can train them a bit with hand feeding/handling. However looking for advice. It's already Oct here in NH and will winter in no time.

Is it too late for me to start them since it will be pretty cold outside in 6 - 8 weeks which is normally when I would put them outside.

 

[Dona Worry]

Hi,
I've had chickens in the past and want to get some more. I'd prefer to get chicks so I can train them a bit with hand feeding/handling. However looking for advice. It's already Oct here in NH and will winter in no time.

Is it too late for me to start them since it will be pretty cold outside in 6 - 8 weeks which is normally when I would put them outside.

I am in VT and getting some chicks in two weeks. I plan to keep them outside from day one, with a heat source in the coop. THEORETICALLY, they should adjust to the ambient temperature when they move away from the light, and feather accordingly, but I am expecting to need the heat source longer than spring chicks.

 

[Folly's place]

You will definitely need their heat lamp or brooder plate a lot longer! Also, depending on your coop and run set-up, Having them integrate into the flock may be more difficult. Mine free range outside during those early introductions, and in snow, that won't work well.
Just make sure that your coop and run will work, that snow cover won't mess things up, and that you have emergency back-up plans for power outages.
Spring is really much easier!
Mary

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

It could work.
1. You would need to make your outside coop protected from all wind, and so that heat from a lamp would mostly stay inside. Of course, you could still have a spot where they could go outside, if it was a warmer day.
2. You would need to have thick bedding, so their feet wouldn't get cold if the ground freezes.
3. You wold need to have a heat lamp, or heat pad, to turn on if you have cold days.

 

[lilmillefleur]

I wouldn't reccommend a heat lamp but a heating pad could work.
I always say, it's never too late for chickens!

 

[iwltfum]

Lots of good advice on here already. Just wanted to add that it's not crazy at all to raise fall chicks for laying. I live in Maine now and have raised chickens here and in the high rockies and I actually prefer fall chicks over spring ones, mainly because fall chicks start laying right when the weather warms up in the spring and will lay heavy for the whole season and then molt or slow down in the fall/winter. With spring chicks, you are sometimes waiting until half the season is already over to get your first egg and then sometimes they don't start laying heavy until even later than that, and by the time winter comes they would have more first-season eggs to give if the weather and light didn't force them to slow down. Eventually a chicken will be able to adapt and get their cycle in tune with the seasons, but for the first couple years (ie. the years that really count IMO), I really notice a difference in production with spring vs fall chicks. And the numbers tend to agree.

Not to mention, we usually have so much to deal with in the spring, any labor intensive activity we can move to the late fall is welcome. We usually get our fall chicks after the August turkey poults move out of the brooder (mid septemberish), but you could safely get them as late as mid October (depending on how far north you are) and be fine. Generally colder and wetter weather than spring brooding, but if your brooder is water tight and your heat source is strong enough, you shouldn't have any problems. Cheers!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

... I've had chickens in the past... however looking for advice. Is it too late for me to start them since it will be pretty cold outside in 6 - 8 weeks which is normally when I would put them outside.

Do as you want. I am in the Sunny South and I refuse to hatch chicks after June.

 

[Dona Worry]

Do as you want. I am in the Sunny South and I refuse to hatch chicks after June.

Why?

 

[GC-Raptor]

I'm on my second flock and the first non-spring chicks.
My current chicks were hatched Aug 15 and are doing well, haven't lost any.
I wouldn't get any later though. GC

 

[ketojenn]

I just hatched a bunch this past weekend and we got our first real snow last night. I'm of the same mind as iwlitfum. I'm looking forward to spring production and since there is little to do outside this time of the year, I can spend more time looking after babies. They have a warm, dry coop all to themselves, heat. and kids that are happy to look after them, they will be fine. I don't plan to open the pop door until they are probably 6 weeks or so.