When is a good time to get chicks?

[chick mansion]

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!

I usually get mine in the spring, but that is mostly because that is the only time that they are sold locally in my area.

Welcome to BYC by the way!

 

[sirrobyn0]

I think we all have definitely put out some good ideas and it is neat to see that there are so many different methods that folks are using. I'd just like to reiterate that the way I raise chicks that I described on page two is not necessarily the best method it's just what I do and what has worked for me.

As far as smell in the house is concerned as I mentioned I keep their cage in the bathroom what I didn't mention is that I keep the door closed and the window cracked. Can I smell them in the bathroom, yes I can, in the rest of the house no. We have tile so once done clean up is easy.

I definitely can see the concerns of a heat lamp for sure and you definitely need to take precautions to ensure they are used safely. Perhaps if I was just getting into it now I'd go with a different method just because of that, but at this point I'm pretty well comfortable with the use of a heat lamp provided it is used carefully.

 

[barred2rock]

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.

"Shock" as in making the chickens uncomfortable, not that it would likely harm them. Sorry, should have been more clear.

 

[jvls1942]

I went back to the original post.
yes, I believe spring is the best time to order chicks.
Yes, you can get them at any time of the year.

Now, my thought,,
maybe you should get some fully feathered out chickens.
......jiminwisc....

 

[FLChickens]

Something to be said for that.

The farm where I got my day-olds charged $3-$6 depending on breed. She charges $5 each for them from 4 weeks to maturity, regardless of breed. I got a couple of frizzle Cochins from her from those ranks.

Especially given the trouble with coccidiosis in the chicks, we'd have been cheaper and better able to choose sex getting older ones. Brooding is no problem for me since I grafted them onto hens.

If I was starting over, I'd get the feathered-out ones and get pullets. But I have limited space so I don't really have that option now.

It can be a lot easier and even cheaper. It costs money to raise them to a certain age.

 

[ccpratt]

That you all for the welcomes and the great information. What a great community we have here!