Hello, after looking online and finding only day-old chicks early in the spring, so postponing poultry for a year - I found a source within an hour's drive with 17 week old pullets. But I'm near Cleveland, in zone 5. What to do?
They have Golden Buff, Black Star, and Leghorn females. Advice? I'll only get six hens, just enough to work the garden for me.
Get 17 week pullets now or wait until spring? Zone 5
Well, I wish I knew how to delete this. The pullets aren't available, but you can't see that until you click to order.
Never mind!
I'd say they're big enough to winter well if you prepare a good spot for them and may produce well by Thanksgiving or X-mas. We have black sex-link, which I think is much like black star, if not the same, and they do very well in cold weather. I assume the black feathers absorb that winter sunlight well. IMHO your decision should be largely economic. Guessing 15 dollars/ 3wks feed + cost of housing for eggs starting ages 20-25 weeks IF they lay (and I think they should).
They may do ok without lights or anything if your chicken hutch is smallish and well insulated. Mine do. And they still lay. But we have a safety light out acroos from the coop.
What a drag.. 17 weeks is a great "jump start" !!!
Mine aren't even that old yet! Seems like the first few weeks fly, then time stops.. they LOOK like hens.. but they are not.. LOL
Yeah, I was all excited til I saw your post.. -I hate that it doesn't tell you til you try to order...talk about 'tease me'...
I'm in THE COLD NORTH!
My chickens were hatched October 1, 2008. They are growing like weeds. We have wintered chickens many years with no problem. s long as they have water & feed. I have warmers to set the waterers on to keep them from freezing.
I took this picture yesterday.
They are Gold Star layers. We have 125.
Bernie
This message was edited Nov 6, 2008 7:16 PM
awwwwwwwwwww those are so cute, some of them looking at the picture taker like, pick me no me I want my picture taken wait meeeeeeeeeeeeee. Outside hugh..........hmmmmmmm there might be hope for me.
CG,
They are very cute. In the thumbnail I thought there was frost on their little chicken-bums. ha! Very pretty coloring.
My biggest concern is moisture here. I came home today and the girls looked like a trio of drowned rats, but they seemed happy as clams.
Does anyone know if I should be drying them off with a towel at night or should they be fine fluffing up and drying off by themselves?
This breed is very pretty full grown. They will be pretty much golden colored. When they hatch the girls are brown & the boys are white. So they are very easy to sex.
Right after the picture, I put my hand down & one hopped onto it. Nice except for the fresh stuff on it's foot!
They have become very name in the last week or so.
They should be really nice hens. Supposed to produce about 270 eggs each per year.
Bernie
outta time but lovin your chickies!! ttfn.