Thinking of buying chickens and not sure when to start – no worries, we got you covered! The timing of when you start raising your chicks can significantly impact their growth and development – so let’s get this right the first time. So what time of year is best for raising chickens?
Spring is often considered the most ideal season due to the favorable weather conditions and high fertility in the flock.
Although spring is often considered the optimal time, every season holds its own merit when it comes to nurturing baby chicks. In this article, we’ll explore each season in detail, highlighting why each one deserves consideration in raising your chickens.
Raising Chickens: Group Results
For this article, I reached out to a group of fellow chicken enthusiasts to see which season they preferred to raise their chickens. Below are the results!
With an impressive 72% of the votes, springtime unquestionably stole the show! Summer garnered a respectable 24%, while Fall and Winter received minimal support from voters.
Raising Chickens In The Spring
Spring is traditionally the most popular time to start raising chicks. The weather is warming up, making it easier to maintain the necessary temperatures for the chicks. Moreover, fertility is high in the flock during spring, making it an ideal time for breeding.
With an overwhelming 72% of the vote in the poll, it’s official, springtime reigns supreme as the most popular season for raising chickens!
The advantages of raising chicks in spring include:
- More varieties of chickens are available for purchase.
- It’s the perfect season for hatching and raising your own baby chicks.
Starting chicks in the early spring means they will be quite large before the warm summer months arrive. This can lead to challenges in housing the growing birds if you don’t have a heated chicken coop. So be aware of the space requirements for your chicks as they grow into pullets during this time of year.
The fellow chicken farmer below paints a beautiful picture in my opinion. She enjoys raising her chickens in the springtime when it’s not so hot, and the flowers are in full bloom around Easter time.
Another user mentioned the reason she likes springtime is the less risky weather. Springtime is known to be very mild weather, never getting too hot or too cold.
Raising Chickens In The Summer
Summer can also be a good time to raise chicks, especially if you have a broody hen. The warm weather is beneficial for the chicks – as this helps them regulate their body temperature. Although not as popular as spring, the summer came in at 24% on the poll.
Another advantage of raising chickens in the summer is the natural food sources that are readily available. Summer brings a host of natural food sources for chickens, including bugs and plants.
However, the heat can also pose challenges. Chicks need to be monitored for signs of heat stress or dehydration, and they should not be allowed out in extreme heat.
If you’re keeping your chickens inside with a lamp on them, make sure the internal temperature of the building isn’t getting too warm for the baby chicks. In the summer I’ve noticed that these rooms can get quite hot very quickly.
Even fully grown chickens need aid during the summer months when the temperatures are peaking. Check out my article “Can Chickens Tolerate Hot Weather” for more information!
Raising Chickens In The Fall
Fall can be a good time to raise chicks, provided it’s early fall. Chicks raised in the fall will be ready to start laying eggs as springtime appears. When raising chicks in the fall, your chickens will be the right age to begin laying the following spring. They lay wonderfully once they start since it’s seasonal for them to lay more eggs in the springtime as the days are growing longer.
In many parts of the country, the fall weather is mild, making it a delightful season for raising chicks. Even in the North, raising chicks in the fall is possible and even preferable by many.
Also, you’ll have plenty of prep time. Prepping in the summer allows you to take full advantage of the warm and pleasant weather. Get all your cleaning and repairs done early before the weather gets colder. Give yourself plenty of time to fall-proof your coop and run.
However, late fall hatchings should be avoided unless you have an indoor area dedicated to hatching and rearing. Winter is just around the corner and it’s not forgiving on chicks.
Fall ended up with only 3% of the vote in my poll with not many people really giving information why they enjoyed this time of year.
Raising Chickens In The Winter
Winter is generally not recommended for raising chicks due to the cold weather. Chicks cannot regulate their own temperatures until around 8-12 weeks old, so they should be kept out of the snow. If a hen produces a surprise clutch of chicks during winter, both the mother and chicks will need to be carefully monitored.
Coming in at 1% of the vote in the poll, there are just not that many chicken enthusiasts raising their chickens during this time of the year.
Although it’s not recommended to raise hens during the winter, if you have the perfect setup for winter or live in cooler environments, you can raise chickens any time of the year – including winter.
Most chicken farmers in the cooler environments have dedicated indoor areas for raising their chicks and then have heated coops for when they reach 8-12 weeks and can maintain their own body temperature sufficiently.
There are some breeds that are more suited to cold climates, so if you’re adamant about raising them during the winter I suggest checking out this article on the 10 best chicken breeds for cold climates.
Remember, food is typically scarce during the winter months for predators, so be careful when raising your chickens during this time of the year. Make sure they have a safe and secure place to be at all times. Chickens are an easy snack for a hungry predator if left unguarded.
I’ve also written an entire article on keeping chickens warm in winter if you’d like to check it out!
Raising Chickens: Warmth and Power Outages
I wanted to add this bit of information here at the end to make sure you don’t forget about power outages. If you decide to raise your chickens in the fall, winter, or early spring, make sure you’ve got a plan for power outages. A single power outage for a few hours can reduce the temperature drastically which can lead to some, if not all of your baby chicks perishing. Always have a backup plan such as a generator or safe area where you can provide warmth near a fire or some other heat source just in case.
Power outages are far more common In the winter than in other months, so if you’re wanting to raise chickens during this time, please have a backup plan. Remember, the chicks rely on YOU for their heat until about 8-12 weeks.
Conclusion
The best time to raise chickens depends on your specific circumstances, including your local climate and resources. However, spring is often considered the most ideal season due to the favorable weather conditions and high fertility in the flock. Regardless of the season, it’s important to provide your chicks with a suitable environment and proper care to ensure their healthy growth and development. Hope for the best and plan for the worst. Always consider power outages and predators when caring for your baby chicks.