Too late to start some new chicks????

[garngang]

Hi southerngirl nice to see another arkansan! so you have been using a heat lamp....i figured it was cool enough to use one. how soon are you going to mix them in with your older birds? see my coop is big enough that i could fit a brooder inside so that they could get to know the bigger birds. if i done that i wonder how long it would be before they were ok to intermingle??
btw can you believe how cool it has been here lately?! its crazy! not that i am complaining!

 

[pbjmaker]

I have 10 eggs developing in the bator right now. I overwintered some chicks last year also. I keep mine in the garage with a heat lamp until they are feathered out.

I live in Iowa where it can get nasty cold out in December - January.

 

[Britgal65]

I have the same questions and situations as a lot of you guys. I lost one of my girls a couple of weeks ago to a dog attack. That took my numbers from 4 down to 3. I am fairly new to chickens too. Holy cow, they are like potato chips. You just can't stop at a couple. I purchased 3 more chicks (barred rocks) that were 2 weeks old and I basically have the same questions as others regarding integrating them into the coop with the other girlies when they are full feathered. I am currently keeping them secure under a heat lamp in my garage with trips out side during the day when it is warm enough. We are in central South Carolina. Any tips on helping them all get along and establishing the pecking order without any major scraps.

 

[lavacaw]

Quote:
What part of the state are you in? I have found in south central Texas the chicks start feathering out earlier in cool weather...Remember the four seasons here are almost summer, summer, still summer and deer season.
Deer season isn't for a couple of months yet!

 

[KDbeads]

Quote:
Wait, I thought we had five:
almost summer, summer, still summer, dove season and then deer season

 

[Southerngirl]

Usually if the temp is in the 60's or lower I put the lamp on them at night even up until 8 weeks of age. They will move away if they get too warm from it. I usually introduce my new chicks to the flock when they are around 6 weeks old. They are feathered out and can RUUUNN away from the other chickens if they need to. Now some of the chicks will get picked on until the "pecking" order is established in the pen. I loved the cool weather !! had all my windows up today airing out the house. Welcome to BYC ! You have started an addiction I am afraid. Just wait, next spring you need an incubator!

We usually order from Cackle Hatchery(www.cacklehatchery.com) it is very close in Missouri and has a short shipping distance for the chicks so they are less stressed and very reasonable prices.

 

[gottalovemychickens]

Quote:
dont count on the snow to come during this spring , we are looking to get hit really hard this winter and the lows are going to drop lower then normal .

Im a trained weather spotter for tornados and what not out here in colorado and so far its not shaping up to be a pretty winter

 

[gottalovemychickens]

my chicks are 1 week old now and they are already getting tail and wing feathers , that normal because of the weather here ?

 

[CCCChickenman]

Hey Peppermentz,
We are teaching (4) humans in Canon City CO.,how to properly take care of us.
U R not to far, a little more than a stones throw away.
Cluck,Cluck,
17- Canon City Chix

 

[txchickie]

Quote:
I am in Amarillo....it's already cold here

We have almost summer, summer, still summer but cold at night, and snow

Deer season falls with the snow, I think!