When is a good time to get chicks?

[sirrobyn0]

You can get chicks anytime. They will need to be started in a brooder, because they will need to be kept out of any drafts, at a steady 90 degrees the first week, 85 the second week, 80 the third week, lowering the temp 5 degrees each week, until they're feathered out. Depending on your daytime temps, you may only need to use a heat source in the evening, and through the night for them. When they've feathered in, they're ready for the coop.

I have never owned or used a true brooder. I have a cage that I image might have originally been used for a guinea pig. I put my chicks in that, put them on my bathroom counter and cover one side and maybe a little of the roof with a towel. Then I clip my heat lamp to the size of the vanity 6 inches or so above the wire cage roof. I have never once taken a temp reading, I just move the light up or down based on what I see. If they are huddled under the light very tightly I move it a little closer. If they are in the opposite corner from the light they are to cold and I move it down a little bit. Eventually... probably a few weeks later. I'll move the cage out into the chicken coop so they all can see each other a bit. And I have built this small thing that attaches to it so they have a little run inside the bigger chicken run. I'll still use the light at night if I think they needed. Other than a couple cases of pastie butt I've had no other issues along the way using this method. I'm not saying that my method is the best by any means I just want you to know that it is possible to be very successful raising chicks without any special equipment.

For those that are curious the cage came to me for free, the light is clip on light from harbor freight tools, cost $7.00 and the heat lamp bulb is one of the better red ones cost $8.00 total setup cost $15.00.

 

[getaclue]

The average brooder set up is a large tote, and a heat source. Nothing overly fancy.

 

[jvls1942]

you might consider not brooding them inside your house. for the first 3 days of their lives, it is OK. but after that the odor will overcome you. you will have to clean their housing at least 3 times a day to keep them from stinking..
I am not a fan of heat lamps.
they are dangerous. many a chicken coop and even homes have burned down because of heat lamps.
they are notorious for prematurely burning out, too. and they are expensive.
buy a small ceramic electric heater.
it will last for years. it costs about what 3 heat lamps would cost,
If you buy your chicks 8 weeks before the cold, really cold, weather is due to arrive, they will be just fine.

In answer to someones question about the POL pullets from our feedmill.. they are Buff Orpington and Barred Rocks..
.......jiminwisc.......

 

[barred2rock]

you might consider not brooding them inside your house. for the first 3 days of their lives, it is OK. but after that the odor will overcome you. you will have to clean their housing at least 3 times a day to keep them from stinking..
I am not a fan of heat lamps.
they are dangerous. many a chicken coop and even homes have burned down because of heat lamps.
they are notorious for prematurely burning out, too. and they are expensive.
buy a small ceramic electric heater.
it will last for years. it costs about what 3 heat lamps would cost,
If you buy your chicks 8 weeks before the cold, really cold, weather is due to arrive, they will be just fine.

In answer to someones question about the POL pullets from our feedmill.. they are Buff Orpington and Barred Rocks..
.......jiminwisc.......

If you're going to go that route, you might as well go with the MHP method. And it's closer to how a mother hen would brood its young.

 

[jvls1942]

what is the MHP method ?

........jiminwisc.........

ETA:
I guess he isn't going to let us know what MHP means.
too bad when someone so knowledgeable isn't willing to share

........jiminwisc.......

 

[FLChickens]

Hi there,

My wife and I just about have our new coop setup. We want to get some baby chicks but aren't sure when it is okay to get them.

We live in Colorado, so we have varying weather. I heard that the best time to get them is early spring. Can you get them around this time of the year without problems?

Thank you!

Anytime is a good time for chicks!

Seriously though, some times are better than others. Early spring is probably ideal for most people, but that doesn't mean you have to wait until next year.

I know you said your weather varies, but what are the extremes? If it doesn't get terribly hot in summer where you are (elevation?), then the sooner the better probably (but you also have to consider weather en route if youre having them shipped - if you call the hatchery they should be able to advise if it's likely to be hot enough to stress them, and what their policies are). Chicks CAN be brooded in very cold winter weather, but it's certainly not ideal, so I'd try to time them to be feathered by the time it gets really cold there. But if you're able to get them locally, and it's not too hot where you are, I'd say the sooner the better, though you still have a wide window if your winter doesn't come too early.

 

[cholland]

MHP = Mama Heating Pad.
Search for that in the raising chicks forum.
Basically you use a heating pad set on a wire frame as a serrogate broody hen. Works great even in cold temps. Also quite a bit safer than a heat lamp in terms of fire risk.

 

[jvls1942]

thanks cholland,
I am from the old school of raising chickens.
I use a brooder hood. it is good in any type of weather and temperature.
I don't do well with abreviations.
I have been raising chickens for only about 50 years , and I am not up on some of the newer devices.
that pad wouldn't work for me as I sometimes have in excess of 200 baby birds of various species.
I built a brooder hood that can handle that many.
I put the brooder hood inside one of my turkey porches which is 4 feet x 11 feet and raised off of the ground 30 inches.
has a steel roof over it.
I build most of the cages and coops and equipment I need.

I believe the Original Poster is in Colorado. I lived in Colorado Springs many years ago.. their winters are not near as severe as in Wisconsin..

Flchickens, yours was a good post.
.......jiminwisc.....

 

[barred2rock]

what is the MHP method ?

........jiminwisc.........

ETA:
I guess he isn't going to let us know what MHP means.
too bad when someone so knowledgeable isn't willing to share

........jiminwisc.......

Sorry, I went away to do other things. No need to get uptight!

 

[lazy gardener]

One issue that could arise getting chicks this late is that when the cold comes around in fall it may be a shock to the chickens. I got mine in early March, so they were adapted to the cold immediately (brooded via MHP). Although, I lost eight of 11 in shipping, due to the cold on route. If/when I do it again I'd get them locally or wait until later in the season.

As long as they are fully feathered by the time you stop any brooder heat, they should be fine. Some hens actually hatch and raise chicks in the winter b/c their calendars are messed up.

The average brooder set up is a large tote, and a heat source. Nothing overly fancy.

While many folks do use a plastic tote, I learned from experience that a tote in combination with a heat lamp can be fatal. My first brood of chicks did great with the tote/heat lamp for days. I checked thermometer regularly, and was following the 5*/week protocol to a T. Checked the brooder and all was fine. an hour later, chicks were in distress and temp had climbed up to 110*. Thankfully, I caught the situation and made adjustments. But, had I done that temp check, and then gone out to run errands, I'd have returned to find broiled nuggets. Most tote/heat lamp set ups do not allow enough room for chicks to escape the heat. Recommended brooder space for BYF is 1 s.f./chick (free floor space) for the first week or two, then increase to 2 s.f. for a couple of weeks. By then, they should be off heat, and if not brooded in the coop to start with, they should be moved to the coop at 4 s.f. open space/bird.

what is the MHP method ?

........jiminwisc.........

ETA:
I guess he isn't going to let us know what MHP means.
too bad when someone so knowledgeable isn't willing to share

........jiminwisc.......

Any time I run across a term I don't know, a quick thread search, or a google search usually yields the answer, as well as yielding more info on the topic.