Sageandonion Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 ...to get my chooks. Had hoped to get them in September, but for one reason or another we haven't been that organised - though ES and I are booked onto a hen keeping course next Saturday . Anyway is it best now to wait until Spring, bearing in mind the weather and darker nights etc? Do many of you add to your flock in the winter months? Not sure of availabilty of hens around my area though I think I could still get some hybrids . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gonetoearth Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 We're wondering exactly the same thing. I look forward to seeing what everyone thinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 I'd say go for it! We're new to chicken keeping, only had our girls for just over a month now. They're an absolute joy and even though the autumn/winter is upon us bigtime at the moment,they haven't took much extra work. You should've seen our girls the other day in the rain, they seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves running around getting soaked through! We've been getting two eggs a day for the last couple of days too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Meant to say too - our girls seem to have developed a little routine of their own! Either Hubbly or I open their Eglu door at around 6:30/7am and they run straight out to start eating brekki. Then at around 9am Cottie lays an egg, whilst Cottie goes in at around 10am and makes hers! How fab is that hey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 That very question was asked here I think the general consensus was that there's no such thing as a bad time to get chickens! There are some considerations about weather etc however. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clairey_Fairy Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 I asked that very same question recently. Never had chickens before but really wanted some. I ummed and ahhed, wet winter weather being the main concern for me, and the lawn as our garden isn't enourmous. But with some encouragement from others on the forum I went for it. Ordered my Eglu, which arrived a few days later, and I have now had my 2 girls, Stella and Ruby for 2 weeks. In the end I decided if we waited till spring we might miss this winter but there would still have next, so might as well go for it! They are lovely and I have spent more time in the garden as I like to go out and watch them. The rain is horrid but the girls don't seem to mind. Made a woodchip base for the run yesterday which looks great (it got muddy quick). They have to be safe in the run while I am out/at work, but love to free range whenever I'm home. Which they of course love, especially as they have discovered my veggie bed this weekend, dug up my carrots and eating mu cabbage, kale and sprouts!The girls are always so excited to see us and come running so fast across the garden when they hear the back door, if I sit on the bench Stella jumps straight up and onto my lap! They too have a routine, let out usually before 7am, food, Ruby goes to lay her egg, followed by Stella. Have been getting 2 eggs a day since we got them, they were already laying, but only for a few weeks. They seem very happy. Usually free range in the evening, then put themselves to bed as it gets dark, about 7pm now, and I shut them in. Sorry, I have rambled, but YES! Go for it now, if you know you want chickens. They are such characters. They had a lovely day out all day yesterday, Ruby loves to sunbathe on the deck, and they love to sit on the deck right outside the kitchen door. And when they are happy it makes me really . Very glad I got them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 The availability of decent stock will be a factor. Many smaller breeders will have sold out at this time of year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 But also breeders are evaluating their stock and selling off those they are not keeping for the winter. Purebreds will hatch in late winter/Spring so their may not be available in Spring and this year hatchings were late. So guess best time is summer. Hybrids around all the time. I got my first lot in Nov and 2nd this time last year and both a success. I just put a covering on the run and sat out with them snug in the rain and got to know them. They'd grown up enough to really enjoy in the Spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 I got my first girls in October 2007. I have just collected another 6 this weekend and I have another arriving tomorrow. Go for it if you want to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windway Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Got our first chickens last weekend - go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Why not? I got my first ones on snowy Christmas Eve! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcatz Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 haha, I was going to say WAIT till spring! I got my chickens Aug 09 and Oct 09 and found it was great in the summer/early autumn, but not so great in the winter when we had all that snow and the temperature was below freezing. It wasn't pleasant bringing the water at dark as it would freeze over if left out all night and then putting it out again in the morning. I think you would have a much better experience if you waited till spring then you would be used to the routine of looking after chickens by winter and you would also enjoy the long summer evenings watching them in the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gelbel Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I see no reason not to get them whenever you are ready. My brother got his three mid November 2008 and had his first egg on Christmas Day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Anyway is it best now to wait until Spring, bearing in mind the weather and darker nights etc? Do many of you add to your flock in the winter months? I was thinking about the same thing not long ago but in the end just couldn't wait... Got my chooks today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I got my chooks in late October last year. After a month they started laying and have laid more or less every day until now: Gwennie is moulting and not laying at present, but the other two are still going strong. I also have three bantams now, and one of them has started laying regularly. I'd say go for it - it is marginally harder to look after them on muddy ground in the winter, but not overly so. And they really do lighten up your life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I'd do as most others have said - get them now. They are a great tonic on wet afternoons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donnielime Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Go for it! I got my 4 bantams 4 weeks ago and they are great. one of them is now laying almost every day and they are already always happy to see me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sageandonion Posted October 5, 2010 Author Share Posted October 5, 2010 Many thanks for all your words of encouragement. Have talked OH into the hen house I want but it's not cheap so I may have to wait for Chrimbo but I can't think of a nicer Christmas present than Chooks and a hen house Will keep you posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sageandonion Posted October 18, 2010 Author Share Posted October 18, 2010 Hen house is finally on order .It will be a combined Chrimbo/birthday present. Delivery hopefully before Christmas and chooks soon after. Spoken to a chicken lady in Wiltshire and she thinks she may still have chooks left to choose from inc Orpingtons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little brown hen Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 I got my girls from Omlet, plus a cube 27th October 2009. The run has evolved to a walk in run 15ft x 15ft, and I have three new girls, but I dont regret having them in the winter, and Ive pasted a link to the photos of the evolved run for you to see. http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/118251886974337038166/EvolvedRun02?authkey=Gv1sRgCP2F3MTOo8aa4gE# Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
