I would try for a mid February shipment of Chicks.I agree but unfortunately I don't have a "Bator" I have some Bantam for brooding next spring and right now I have some lil ducklings under the heat light. So no room for chicks. When end of winter/early spring comes around I will have the light box ready again for them. And when it gets nice out they will be ready to go out! When the ducks are done with the light im afraid it would be to cold by them to ship em
They only need to stay in the brooder until they are fully feathered. Horstmans Straight combed RIR (Kettle Line) are a bit slow to feather so that will be 6 to 7 weeks. They can take more cold then most think.