best time of year to get chicks?

[Lotsapaints]

I like the first part of March cool shipping they are feathered out by May and can be outside and mine started to lay in mid July. I hatched in April, May, June and July the last ones hatched are getting big now the ones hatched in April and May are laying up a storm and it looks like the June hatches will begin to lay in December. I'm going to be hatching from my own breeding program in January so soon I will know what gives me the best chicks size and development wise but for laying only I would say from March thru May for keeping the cost down on brooding I would go later I loved my summer hatches needed very little lights for warmth.

 

[jaj121159]

Believe it or not I followed a Peace Corps chicken raising guide. This said to get your chickens in December and they will start laying when the days start getting longer in July. Of course, that was written for the southern hemisphere, so I reversed it and got my chickens in July and the days will begin to get longer in about three weeks and we'll see where that gets us.

 

[Lotsapaints]

Quote:
Should get you eggs I know mine that were hatched in July I think will begin to lay the end of the month in January....my June ones have started now and they are Marans who take longer to lay than most I love those chocolate eggs

 

[abhaya]

Quote:
Should get you eggs I know mine that were hatched in July I think will begin to lay the end of the month in January....my June ones have started now and they are Marans who take longer to lay than most I love those chocolate eggs

Mine are july cicks and I am waiting for eggs I hope to see some come january

 

[bigoakhunter]

Quote:
X2 April or May!

 

[Jessiewoodard57]

I have next years layers in the brooders right not. This year I bought my new hampshires in march and just started getting the first eggs.

 

[Momo]

A lot of it depends on your location (day length, climate etc). In my neck of the woods I find that chicks hatched in March/April are laying by early fall, but those hatched in June/July won't lay until early the next spring. It seems as though if they're approaching laying age when it's cold and dark they just hold off until the end of February or into March. So I like to hatch early in the spring and then again in September/October.

 

[LuckyDozen Farm]

I usually get my first babies in February when the hatcheries are back in business, to get some of the unusual breeds. We live in south Texas where its gets below freezing for only short bursts. They are usually laying in June or July. I got some White Leghorns in September once and was able to get a few "pullet eggs" in by the end of the year. I have set up a brooding pen out of a 6' round water trough and put that in with the Cornish Cross broilers (since I dont have to worry about them flying inside with the babies). I made a lid out of plywood and set up a greenhouse window opener and set it up to open above 100 degrees...its been a good setup that has seen many hatchings. I am thinking of getting an incubator to hatch my own this year. That way i am not at anyone's mercy when I need more chicks.

 

[flockof4]

I got 7-8 week old pullets in late January and they started laying in May.

 

[mommyofthreewithchicks]

I have at least one "chick" from July that is laying and my Mayish (got them in June but they guy didn't know how old they were) have been laying 3 eggs per day (three ladies) since September. I enjoyed that I didn't have to have the heat lamp on them for very long but the egg wait has been driving me nuts. I think if I get chicks this year I will be getting them closer to Jan or Feb. And I am really hoping to get an incubator for Christmas and if that is true than we will be hatching our own babies!