What time of year is best for chicks?

[GC-Raptor]

My first Flock of chickens (6 Golden Comets) were bought as day old chicks on March 30, 2016.
One chick was lost on day 4. The five that survived started to lay at 4 months to the day and all were laying at 19 weeks. 3 survive today. 2 hens give me 10 - 12 eggs a week, 1 retired from laying at 24 months.

My second Flock (7 Barred Rocks) were bought as day old chicks on August 16, 2018.
All survive, but 1 has a neck problem and is the runt.
They have been off the heat lamp since week four.
They have survived two nights in the mid 20s Fahrenheit in the past week, was low 30s in the coop.
For my climate I would not want to get day old chicks after August 15.
I am hoping they will start to lay around 5 months, (middle of January). We shall see. GC

 

[rosemarythyme]

As I'm less concerned about size of eggs or quicker laying, I think late spring chicks are easiest - it's warm enough that they can come off heat faster, but not so hot that heat would be an issue. They can grow up with sunshine instead of rain (which is 3 seasons of the year for me). Plus it's just harder to get different chicks during late summer or fall - my feed store still gets some but usually only one or two breeds.

 

[aart]

I like to hatch in Mar-Apr...they are laying by the time the older ones are molting.
Helps to use lights to get fertile eggs earlier.