I have not done this before but I am doing it this year. This is my second year of keeping chickens. I began last year by buying pullets starting to lay. I paid $10 each for Rhode Island Reds & White Leghorns. I later got 4 red sex links for $15 each. After my order of baby chicks came in I sold the adults.
Now I have 3 10 month old Ameracaunas, 4 buff orpington & a 2 year old RIR as we could not catch her when I sold my chickens before.
I have 21` red stars hatched Feb 14. And 1 mystery chick. I ordered 25 but got only 22 & 1 quickly died. Nearly DOA. The packing slip said there were 25 RS 1 mystery chick and 1 extra red star. I emailed but never got a response.
I will keep maybe 8 to 10 Red Stars & sell the rest. They should be laying by July. Most folks get their chicks in cold NJ in April & May.
Some folks don't want to raise babies & would rather buy pullets beginning to lay.
Good luck!