How late can I order chicks?

[ColoradoGirl42]

This may be a dumb question, but how late in the year can I start my flock? We just moved to our "new" place and won't have time to prep a coop for at least a few months. The feed store here gets chicks in the end of this month and will be finished by the end of March, which would mean I would need to have the coop ready in April, and I'm not sure we can get that done, so I don't want to buy chicks if they won't have proper shelter when it's time. Can I order chicks as late as May? I'm concerned about them being shipped when the weather is hot. I would hate to wait an entire year to start my flock, but I'll do it if it's necessary to avoid harming the birds.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Stacykins]

I ordered my chickies for a June delivery in January

I wanted to make sure I got the breeds I wanted, so ordering early guarantees it

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

some hatcheries sell all year round, but the breeds you can get are limited, plus raising chicks in winter sucks

what you can do is order early, but request a ship date