When to get day old chicks for spring?

[lazy gardener]

IMO, if this is your first brooding experience, the month definitely matters. And your location matters a great deal. What is your general location? Place your order in January, and choose your ship date. Under the best of circumstances, shipping is hard on chicks. Add a winter storm, a cold snap, a package sitting too long on a loading dock somewhere, rough handling, and you receive a box of DOA's instead of a box of peeps.

ETA: MY bad, you did give your location! sorry!

 

[Folly's place]

I don't want chicks shipped until early April, because of weather concerns in shipping. Having dead/ dying chicks arrive because it's been too cold for the trip (or too hot in summer) is very sad. Also, having moderate temps while they are feathering out helps the electric bill, and even a generator might not be enough in a bad widespread power outage. Have contingency plans! Mary

 

[nine9d]

O.k. So is aiming for April still a good plan then, or should I do later per my location/weather?

I don't want chicks shipped until early April, because of weather concerns in shipping. Having dead/ dying chicks arrive because it's been too cold for the trip (or too hot in summer) is very sad. Also, having moderate temps while they are feathering out helps the electric bill, and even a generator might not be enough in a bad widespread power outage. Have contingency plans! Mary

Thanks for the response Folly. I have a lot of contingency plans in place. I am a saltwater tank hobbyist for the past 15 years. I get corals from out of the country delivered to me and have many back up options in case of power failures and the like!