Want to get chicks....now.

[Silkie2]

our local feed store will have day old silkies, frizzles, and cochins tomorrow.
I would LOVE to get those breeds. My absolute favorite silkie recently just died to a dog attack would like to get my mind off of it. The only problem is, by the time the chicks would be old enough to go outside it would still be in the 40s (this march)
I dont know what to do?
I’d keep them inside only if they didnt smell so bad when they get older.
Should i get chicks tomorrow? Which i really want to. But it may not be a good idea to get them so soon..

 

[Smuvers Farm]

I see no reason why not. It is easy to get the chickens adapted to the outside temperature. Using a MHP? Turn it down every week. Other heat sources, you just move them further away until the chickies are old enough to move outside.

 

[ronott1]

Get those chicks!

They will be fine when fully feathered with temps at 40F

 

[Silkie2]

I see no reason why not. It is easy to get the chickens adapted to the outside temperature. Using a MHP? Turn it down every week. Other heat sources, you just move them further away until the chickies are old enough to move outside.

View attachment 1259208
Get those chicks!

They will be fine when fully feathered with temps at 40F

so i might be getting the chicks!!
next to the breed they listed "pullets"
how old are "pullets"? i know that's like the term for a young hen, will they be fully feathered? not that it matters. i'd like them kinda young.
also, whenever we buy from this place one of the chicks always dies. how can we prevent this? i figured it was from too much stress from shipping?

 

[CABINHOLLOWNC]

so i might be getting the chicks!!
next to the breed they listed "pullets"
how old are "pullets"? i know that's like the term for a young hen, will they be fully feathered? not that it matters. i'd like them kinda young.
also, whenever we buy from this place one of the chicks always dies. how can we prevent this? i figured it was from too much stress from shipping?

If the day old chicks are labeled "pullets", that means that they were sexed at the hatchery and should all be female chicks.

I always bring my new chicks straight home to a brooder that is already setup and warm with water that has vitamins and probiotics for the first two days. I immediately check them for pasty butt and do that twice a day for the first week. I do it once a day for the next week till I'm sure I have them balanced out. Have some poultry nutridrench or Poly Vi Sol vitamins without iron on hand in case you have a chick that isn't doing well and needs a boost.

 

[song of joy]

There's way too much mess and odor raising chicks indoors. I'd wait until it's a bit warmer to get chicks and then raise them in the coop with a safe heat source (e.g., heating pad brooder).

 

[Silkie2]

If the day old chicks are labeled "pullets", that means that they were sexed at the hatchery and should all be female chicks.

I always bring my new chicks straight home to a brooder that is already setup and warm with water that has vitamins and probiotics for the first two days. I immediately check them for pasty butt and do that twice a day for the first week. I do it once a day for the next week till I'm sure I have them balanced out. Have some poultry nutridrench or Poly Vi Sol vitamins without iron on hand in case you have a chick that isn't doing well and needs a boost.

Oh okay thank you! Gonna stop at TSC on the way there.

I’ll only probably be getting
2 silkies, 1 frizzle and a cochin.

I dont think theyll make too much of a mess @song of joy since it will only be 4 birds in a big tub in our basement. If it does get too cold i plan on putting the portable heater on then slowly moving it farther away from the brooder as they get older.
We have raised chicks without a heat source before though

 

[CABINHOLLOWNC]

Oh okay thank you! Gonna stop at TSC on the way there.

I’ll only probably be getting
2 silkies, 1 frizzle and a cochin.

I dont think theyll make too much of a mess @song of joy since it will only be 4 birds in a big tub in our basement. If it does get too cold i plan on putting the portable heater on then slowly moving it farther away from the brooder as they get older.
We have raised chicks without a heat source before though

Just a heads up...my TSC has a minimum chick purchase of 6...I don't know if they all do it or not...but didn't want you to get there and be surprised by that.

Also, you said that you've raised chicks without a heat source before, but frizzle's and silkie's are a little harder to keep warm...so please monitor them to be sure the little fluff balls are warm enough. As for them getting smelly, I just clean the brooder everyday and that takes care of any smells and keeps them healthy and happy! Good luck with your babies and post a picture when you get them so we can all share the cuteness

 

[Silkie2]

Just a heads up...my TSC has a minimum chick purchase of 6...I don't know if they all do it or not...but didn't want you to get there and be surprised by that.

Also, you said that you've raised chicks without a heat source before, but frizzle's and silkie's are a little harder to keep warm...so please monitor them to be sure the little fluff balls are warm enough. As for them getting smelly, I just clean the brooder everyday and that takes care of any smells and keeps them healthy and happy! Good luck with your babies and post a picture when you get them so we can all share the cuteness

Oh lol i meant TSC has a corner for probiotics and medicine for chickens i might stop there to get some vitamins/probiotics for the chicks. Theres a different feed store we have that sells chicks. Yeah i’ll keep an eye on them. I think i did put the heat lamp on for a little bit when we got my first silkies (sorry lol i know i said i had never. Must’ve just been the “normal” hens i had never used heat)

I sure will! (Silkie chicks are always so cute! )

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

There's way too much mess and odor raising chicks indoors. I'd wait until it's a bit warmer to get chicks and then raise them in the coop with a safe heat source (e.g., heating pad brooder).

With a safe heat source this can be done any time, the supplemental warmth negates the outside temperature as a concern.