What is the best time of the year to purchase chicks?

[farmboy22]

I was wondering if it would be better to purchase chicks in February or getting them later in the season. Would it be better to get them earlier because there is more time for them to lay in late summer and early fall.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Most chick sales do indeed occur in early spring. The average feed store focuses it's chick sales in March. There's a reason, I suppose. People are geared up, coming out of winter and chicks are a sure sign of spring. Most breeding flocks are in full lay by the end of February and by March, the incubators are pumping out the chicks, both in commercial setups and in people's private residences.

The added benefit of a "spring chick" is that the pullets have a chance to come into lay before the dark days of autumn set in. Chicks are hatched almost year around, to be sure, but those early spring chickens are still the most popular.

 

[spotsplus]

I tend to like to get chicks about the beginning of April. I ordered chicks once in February and all 25 chicks were frozen (dead) when they arrived so I don't order chicks so early. Here in the northeast spring is starting to show itself about april and it gets warm enough for a few hours out in the afternoon for the chicks and by June it's warm enough for the chicks to go out in the coop at 8 weeks old.

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

If I want eggs in the winter, I hatch in the summer.

 

[coffeenutdesign]

I like to get chicks in early spring (around mid-March). I live in Tx. I like to brood my chicks indoors and then I can start transitioning them outside as it gets warmer, so that they can be in the "grown-up" coop by summer.

 

[dirtsaver]

farmboy you did not identify what area you lived in so anything we suggest needs to be adjusted according to your climate. Here in Kentucky we order our chicks to be delivered late March/early April. This gives us a few weeks of keeping chicks in the utility room indoors to watch them until they feather out and by then the weather is warm enough to put them in the outside brooder coop. We keep a small lamp in there for a couple more weeks until they get used to the outside weather.

Since most hatcheries hatch and ship year-round(or Feburary-Novenber at least) you can order them whenever you want to start your flock. If you are buying from a farm store you are limited to a couple of months in the spring in most areas.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

I leave it up to the broody, and they usually don't sit until march and hatch out end of month, natures way. Most animals do deliver in spring, so....

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Order chicks as early in the spring as your weather will allow, or late fall. I'm in central Ohio, and I get mine in early March if I can. Then they are already laying before the dark days of winter hit and they are more likely to keep laying through the winter. I've had late April chicks before, and some of them didn't lay their first egg until April of the following year.

I've also had good luck with late fall chicks. Order with enough time to get them fully feathered before the snow flies. Then they start laying eggs well the following spring.

 

[farmboy22]

I live in Kentucky as well. This year I bought 35 chicks the first week of March. So far so good.

 

[waffles717]

Wow that is great,we are in Buffalo ny have a huge barn want to start this Soon,but it is still cold here,so im waiting two weeks,going to make our coop this weekend and be ready with a heat lap,food water,so when weather gets good they can go outside,my plan please post your chicks,ok