Vermonters

[hitnspit]

Anyone from the vermont area so maybe i can come and see how you do your killings so can get the hang of it before i do mine in July.......jim

 

[Peruvian]

I'm in southern VT and process my own birds. They should be ready around the end of June.

 

[tsarge]

I'm in northern VT and this is my first year with chickens. I have 25 Cornish X on order due in May 7th. I plan to brood in a kiddie pool in my garage, then move them to a 6'x8' pen outside.

How many weeks should I brood indoors? At what point can I move them out to the pen? I'm concerned about the cold nights. I do not have power in the outdoor pen and would rather not run extension cords for heat lamps. Will they be ok outside once feathered?

Thanks, I have not run into many other Vermonters on here and would like the perspective of others living in our climate.
Tim

 

[Peruvian]

Quote:
I think a kiddie pool might be a little small to get 25 birds to a point where they can go outside. You don't want to move them out until they are fully feathered (around 3 weeks). You will be surprised how large they get by then.

It's important in our climate to really pay attention to how warm the brooder is in the first weeks. I use a brooder in the garage which is wrapped in reflective bubble wrap and 2 heat lamps to get to 95 degrees during the first week. Then you can lower the temp by 5 deg per week. I often have a heat lamp in my chicken tractor as well to plug in the first week they are outdoors and any nights were it is expected to get very cold. I have run over 100' of extension cord to it!

Best to you and let me know what tricks you learn along the way.