When to stop hatching chicks

[Mister B]

I am planning on hatching chicks through the summer, but I want to know when I should set my last batch of eggs. What I need to know is, how old do the chicks need to be before it gets cold in the winter? In NW Alabama, it doesn't start staying cold until about December, however, we will have frost in late October. Usually the average high in Nov. and Dec is in the mid to upper 50's with some 60 degree days scattered in and occasionally a 70ish day. I just don't know when the babies are, "cold hardy".

 

[dheltzel]

Watch how fast the current chicks feather out and make your decision from that. If you don't want to worry with heat, stop in time that the last batch are fully feathered before it gets too cold. I'm in a much colder area (PA), and plan to set eggs until sometime in August, maybe a few special ones after that even, but they'd have to really special.