Backyard Poultry Forum

Sorry, may seem a like a silly question to all you experienced chicken people, but for a novice who is just starting out just wondering, is there a best time to buy - apart from the obvious (When they are available!). I'm looking at getting maybe 3 chooks (Just for eggs), 1 each for of my kids, floated as an idea from my mum for an xmas present rather then toys, computer games etc for the kids. They will build or help build/buy the house and I'll get the chooks. I don't want eggs or chicks as I don't have the equipment, but when they older enough to live outside - thought if I got the chooks earlier rather then POL, they would easier to handle and would get used to us handling, feeding them etc. Is this around 10-15wks as I'm finding different answers everywhere I look (Of couse it would differ on the breed to!)

So if a xmas present would be getting them in late January by the time we build the pen!! Or is it better in spring, (An early xmas present) when all the chooks are back laying and there are plenty of chickens around (My dad reckons spring - purely for the fact it would be easier to digs holes for the posts now whilst its wet, rather then when the ground is like concrete in Summer)
My only prob is that if I get them sooner rather then later - we usually go visiting my parents for 4-5 days (2hrs east of us) and visit hubbys parents (3hrs west of us) coming and going for the 2-3 wk christmas/new year period. Would they be alright for that long (4-5 days) by themselves if I find a big enough self water and feeder?? My neighbours could look in on them, but they aren't real chook people and most of other neighbours are usually away for that time too. Could I take them on a car trip to my parents farm for those days or would it totally confuse them when I bring them back.??

Sorry maybe a silly question, just want to get the facts on everything before I dive in!!!

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Starting with a Barnelder, Australorpe, Rhode Island Red and Welsummer

I personally would build the pens now if you were to live near me not too much hard work putting showel in wet shoggy ground.Where as by Christmas it will be rock hard.
As for the chooks I would wait till after Christmas here I dont have many laying yet, people start getting rid of say point of lays or younger after Christmas after they have had a good look at them and decide they dont want them.
If you know you are going away then wait relying on others to feed and water them can be a problem in it self.
Good luck with the chook pen building

In my limited (really limited) experience, the best time is around easter when the clubs have their sales prior (I assume) to culling.
Don't know where those sales would be in Melbourne though.