What time of the year would you start a new flock?

[Rosaleen]

I have pullets that are just starting to lay now and I just started another batch of eggs in the incubator...we will have eggs by early spring.

 

[HEChicken]

I started in early Fall and still think that's the best time. The weather was warm enough they were outside in a few weeks, and they grew up during the time of year when short days mean layers don't lay as much anyway. I got my first egg the day after Christmas and the others joined in in January. I was reeling in the eggs by February and March, when Chick Days were just starting up at my local feed stores.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I think the best time to start a new flock (starting with day olds) is the beginning of spring. When the weather stays consistently warm. There's nothing better than fuzzy wuzzy chickies

but they start to get messy and stinky pretty quickly, so I don't like to keep them in my house long. If you are starting with older birds, anytime you want

 

[Fred's Hens]

Quote:
Good questions - I should have told you both of these things in the original post. I am in the northern third of MI (not upper P - I am north lower). I am new to this location but I understand it gets cold and we have long winters.

I have assumed the only way to go is with day olds, if I can start with older ones I would love that.

By the way I just visited your home page and appreciated the information there.

I also am in the northern lower. You have a couple of choices. Day Olds, Coop-ready Brooded out pullets (6-8 weeks of age) are hard to find, although drop me a pm. We will some in spring from our small breeding program. We'll start hatching in March and do so right thru May. The earlier the chick is hatched, the more likely she is to be in full lay before the shorter days of September catch up with them. Sometimes, a chick hatched in June juust won't lay until the following spring.

Fall hatched chicks start laying, normally, right on schedule in February, as the days are once again growing longer.

The more expensive way to go is to buy "point of lay pullets", or pullets at roughly 16 weeks of age. Pricey, because folks have considerable time and money raising them to that point and they are just now about to return some investment by laying.

And... Welcome to living "Up North" as Michiganders say.