Where do you all get your chickens?

[lazy gardener]

There is no advantage to doing a chick purchase that way. Eliminate them as a middle man, and do your business directly with the hatchery. The issue you describe is exactly like the horror story I described.

 

[ehoneybee]

There is no advantage to doing a chick purchase that way. Eliminate them as a middle man, and do your business directly with the hatchery. The issue you describe is exactly like the horror story I described.

It's not a hatchery per se, just a local family farm that sells birds. It seems to be a couple who sell out of their home. Google reviews is mixed from awesome to horrible (lol). I may order 1 online and then purchase more if they look good when I get there.

 

[ehoneybee]

So, they only have 9-12 week olds available late October. That's fine except I'll have to wait another 3-4 months to get eggs and it will be the dead of winter by then. 9-12 week olds can be in coop overnight, right? I'm in New England.

 

[apryl29]

So, they only have 9-12 week olds available late October. That's fine except I'll have to wait another 3-4 months to get eggs and it will be the dead of winter by then. 9-12 week olds can be in coop overnight, right? I'm in New England.

9-12 weeks old in Oct is older than what you'd have anyway if you got newly hatched chicks now. I put my chickens into a coop w/ no outside access (wasn't finished yet) when they were between 5 and 9 weeks (different ages), & I had a heat lamp in there for them at night, but it was the end of April here in Ohio so it was still pretty cold at night. We'd unplug the heat lamp during the day. I think they would be ok in the coop at that point, but I'd talk to the hatchery you're getting them from to see what kind of accommodations they would suggest re: heat and outside access. If they have them a coop w/ no heat and let them run around then there's no reason why you can't do the same.

 

[aart]

9-12 week olds can be in coop overnight, right?

Yes, as long as they are dry and out of the wind, they'll be fine.
I doubt the farm you get them from has them under heat at that age.

 

[Ridgerunner]

9 to 12 weeks. No they do not need heat. Mine go through below freezing weather (in a wind-proof well-ventilated up high coop) before they are 6 weeks old.

 

[apryl29]

9 to 12 weeks. No they do not need heat. Mine go through below freezing weather (in a wind-proof well-ventilated up high coop) before they are 6 weeks old.

When you say 'wind-proof' do you mean you block all the outside access to the run? Just wondering b/c I'm in OH and this will be our first winter coming up. Not sure if we should leave the chicken door open and just close it when it goes below freezing. Of course we get chickens the year they say winter will be bad.

 

[Folly's place]

Ventilation must be maintained all winter regardless of the outside temperatures. My coop doors are always open, because the run is roofed, and in winter, the open walls are covered in two layers of clear plastic sheeting up about six feet. Above that, everything is open for air flow. Damp still air is dangerous, so shelter, protection from wind, and adequate space continue all winter. Mary

 

[lazy gardener]

When you say 'wind-proof' do you mean you block all the outside access to the run? Just wondering b/c I'm in OH and this will be our first winter coming up. Not sure if we should leave the chicken door open and just close it when it goes below freezing. Of course we get chickens the year they say winter will be bad.

NO. They need ventilation all year round. Chickens put out an incredible amount of moisture through their feces and their respiration. I'm in growing zone 4B, 44.5 parallel.
My 12 x 10 coop has 16' of soffit vents, 2 eave vents, a floor level vent, 3 windows. As well as the pop door and the human door. Then there is a clean out door and the broody cage doors which also allow some air exchange. I do cover the floor level vent during the winter, and close the window closest to the perches. The other 2 windows (one of which allows fresh air to enter the top level nest boxes) and all the other vents allow good air exchange year round. I close the nesting area windows at night and during serious snow storms. Windows are opened during the day. Pop door is opened any time the temp is above 15*. It's a good idea to know the direction of weather patterns for your area. Most of our storms come from the west, so that end of my coop, as well as the north are closed off. Windows and doors are on South and East.

 

[Folly's place]

The north and west walls are solid, while east and south are more open, with that plastic sheeting to keep snow and wind off the birds. It's always a bit warmer there than outside during the cold months, with only the two water heaters, and the birds. Mary