Question on timing a hatch for the year

[ChickPrincess]

I am new to chickens, but am very familiar to hatching reptile eggs (which is tough... the slightest variation in temp or humidity means death to the hatchling).
I already have an incubator. I'm thinking of ordering fertile black australorp eggs within the week. I guess my only question right now is, would the chickens be old enough and hardy enough (they would be about 8 weeks old beginning of October) to withstand the colder temps in NY? We normally don't get bitter cold in October, but can have some snow. I can add a regular light bulb to the coop for heat but don't want to depend on that in case of power failure.
Or should I just wait until next spring?
Thank you!
Karin

 

[HEChicken]

Goodness yes! Mine never stay inside more than 4 weeks, and I've had them hatch in January. We probably don't get quite as cold in Kansas as you do in NY, but we do get some pretty low temps and will get a week to 10 days straight where the temps are in the single digits, so we do experience some of that cold. Now I will say the 3-week-olds I turned outside in February, it was during a milder week, but even so, they did just fine.

I would recommend transitioning them to outside no later than 4 weeks old. By 8 weeks they will be hardy and acclimatized.

 

[ChickPrincess]

Thank you! I didn't realize they would be that hardy so early on.
As long as dh can make me a second coop before late fall/winter I'll go ahead and order.
Thanks for the info!
Karin