When to get day old chicks for spring?

[nine9d]

Hi all,
I'm wanting to get day old chicks for next spring and I live in N.Y. What month is the best to get them in?

Here are my general high and low outside temps:
February - High 42 / Low 29
March - High 50 / Low 35
April - High 61 / Low 45
May - High 71 / Low 54
June - High 79 / Low 64
July - High 84 / Low 69

The plan would be to have them in an inside brooder, then move them outside to coop when feathered out. Would I get them as early as mid-March to have them ready for May, or is that too early? Looking to maximize my time and planning. Thanks so much for all of your help thus far.

- Ross

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

I would get them in April and brood them in the coop.

Good luck

Gary

 

[lazy gardener]

Listen to Gary! However, I would add this: If you are having them shipped, choose a reputable hatchery fairly close to you. Given your location, that shouldn't be too difficult. Review their on line catalog, and place your order to lock in your breeds and your ship date as soon as they start accepting orders. (Often the first week of January.) That places you at the top of the list, so your order takes precedence over the later orders. If you wait to order, you may not be able to get the chicks you want.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Listen to Gary! However, I would add this: If you are having them shipped, choose a reputable hatchery fairly close to you. Given your location, that shouldn't be too difficult. Review their on line catalog, and place your order to lock in your breeds and your ship date as soon as they start accepting orders. (Often the first week of January.) That places you at the top of the list, so your order takes precedence over the later orders. If you wait to order, you may not be able to get the chicks you want.

I have my order in the cart at Meyers waiting to pull the trigger in January! I am in So Cal and this year they shipped on Monday and they were in my coop 26 hours later.

Gary

 

[lazy gardener]

My chicks went to the shipping dock at midnight Tues, sat over night, started their first leg of the journey Wed AM. I had to be proactive and go to a central postal hub and demand my chicks on Friday morning. They missed every single connecting flight along their journey, and sat at each location overnight before being shipped to the next hub. I'm at the end of the line, both in proximity to major hatcheries, and regarding postal delivery within my state.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

My chicks went to the shipping dock at midnight Tues, sat over night, started their first leg of the journey Wed AM. I had to be proactive and go to a central postal hub and demand my chicks on Friday morning. They missed every single connecting flight along their journey, and sat at each location overnight before being shipped to the next hub. I'm at the end of the line, both in proximity to major hatcheries, and regarding postal delivery within my state.

I am an hour away from a major hub, and everything lined up for a quick trip! I am the type if its not broke don't fix it, Myer's is my go to hatchery from here on out. Now I just have to decide who stays and who goes next year to keep the chicken math balanced....

Gary

 

[debid]

Yep, the hubs matter. I can send something from Nashville TN to Houston TX or San Francisco CA and it's there in a day because these locations are airline hubs. But if I ship to Memphis TN, it takes at least 2 days. And, Denver CO is a hub so that's something to think about if you're going cross country on the northern side. Brrrrrrr.

 

[bajabirdbrain]

We second IdyllwildAcres experience. We, too, ordered from Meyer's. For shipping before April 1st there was a minimum number of chicks but after the 1st the # of chicks was much fewer but the selection available was also less.

I don't think the temps are that much of a concern as the Mama Heat Pad system works great. We split an order with a friend, he got 5 chicks and we got 11. Check with your Post Office several times to find out exactly when and how they handle live animals. Be pro-active as "stuff happens", sadly. Best of luck with your journey. BB

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

We second IdyllwildAcres experience. We, too, ordered from Meyer's. For shipping before April 1st there was a minimum number of chicks but after the 1st the # of chicks was much fewer but the selection available was also less.

I don't think the temps are that much of a concern as the Mama Heat Pad system works great. We split an order with a friend, he got 5 chicks and we got 11. Check with your Post Office several times to find out exactly when and how they handle live animals. Be pro-active as "stuff happens", sadly. Best of luck with your journey. BB

Order in January for best selection

Gary

 

[nine9d]

Let's just say I want to brood them inside as I have a close affinity to my animals. Would the month matter much then? I know I would still have to ween them to outside conditions. Thanks so much for all of the great responses and tips!