When to buy chicks.

[Redhead Rae]

When should I order chicks through the mail?? I want to get some LF Cochins and a few other breeds. I want them to start laying before the end of the year, so I want to order soon, but it’s been so cold this year. I’m afraid the poor little chickies would freeze before getting to me. Should I just hope for the best and order them or hold off?

FYI, I live in WV and I’m ordering from Cackle.

 

[fawndane]

I personally would hold off until weather is warmer. If you are afraid of baby chicks freezing, that should answer your question. Baby chicks that are just a couple days old are very fragile, they are still fuzzy and do not have enough feathers to keep them warm.

 

[Percheron chick]

But go ahead and order them now to guarantee you get the breeds you want when you want.

 

[sylviethecochin]

I'd wait and check the weather forecast, hoping for an Indian summer in Missouri and in WV. Can you order chicks and request for specific shipping dates? I understand some hatcheries let you do that.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I am going to order from Cackle. I think they will let me request a date, but they can't guarantee the date. The only chicks I got from them were ordered on a Tuesday and the shipment was sent on Wednesday because I requested them ASAP. I wanted to raise them with chicks I had ordered from a breeder and they were ready for me a month before I was expecting them.

 

[fawndane]

I am going to order from Cackle. I think they will let me request a date, but they can't guarantee the date. The only chicks I got from them were ordered on a Tuesday and the shipment was sent on Wednesday because I requested them ASAP. I wanted to raise them with chicks I had ordered from a breeder and they were ready for me a month before I was expecting them.

Cackle will let you request a ship date, I’ve ordered from them twice.

 

[K3nzi3]

Wait until your weather warms up, and when the weather warms up from where you are buying. You can always try hatching eggs as well. I've always ordered for the beginning of fall, but I live in a really hot climate. (southern NV)

 

[Sassysouth]

But go ahead and order them now to guarantee you get the breeds you want when you want.

For sure. I looked on MPC the other day and lots of their dates are already sold out. Order now and pick your date.

 

[fawndane]

The only thing is with picking a date ahead of time, it is never a guaranteed date. You could end up getting the chicks way too early or way too late. I always order around the time I want to get chickens, when the weather forecast is good, and I have the supplies in order to care for them. Certain breeds don’t matter to me, but I understand that not everyone is that way and other people may want certain breeds that sell out quickly.

 

[Redhead Rae]

The only thing is with picking a date ahead of time, it is never a guaranteed date. You could end up getting the chicks way too early or way too late. I always order around the time I want to get chickens, when the weather forecast is good, and I have the supplies in order to care for them. Certain breeds don’t matter to me, but I understand that not everyone is that way and other people may want certain breeds that sell out quickly.

The Cochins don't sell out that quickly I think. I was looking at them during the summer last year and they still had them. Some of the breeds I was looking at (Dark Cornish and Isabel Leghorns) sold out within 5 days of them opening the 2018 for sale.