I am looking for chicks/eggs (prefer chicks) for next spring. Where is a good place to get them?
Game hens, a silky, barred rocks, buff orpingtons.
deb
Does anyone here sell hatchlings or eggs?
Hi Deb,
My suggestion would be to talk to local feed stores to see if they sell chicks, and what kind they usually have. Some of them will special order specific birds to be shipped in with their own chick orders, and it 's cheaper, and sometimes easier. It's also a way to get fewer birds that the minimums hatcheries set for delivery to individuals.
One silky may be difficult, they're kind like potato chips...:)
I checked stores this spring. They don't get what I want.
That's why I suggested asking if they could add a special order. Probably not the big chains, but the local places around here will add what you want to their orders. I got my first SC chickens that way, Turkens, Cochins, Silkies and White Faced Black Spanish, all something they don't usually carry. I specified what I wanted, and they tacked it on to their order. They would have called me when they were in, but I was there waiting before they opened...
If they won't or can't do that, then you can check Craigslist or somesuch, or order thru the hatcheries. I'm currently waiting for an order from Cackle, but have also had great luck with Murray McMurray in the past. For less than minimum order (15-25 depending on time of year and hatchery) try My Pet Chicken, who will ship as few as three, I think, but shipping is very high.
estrail1rider-
I would suggest Craigslist too. That is where I got my chicks from. They were a little older 4-5 weeks, but that saves you the shipping and dead loss. Paid about $3 each for these I have and I got a good variety. The Silkies may be hard to come by locally though. Good luck with your chicken adventure!
Check to see if you have any swaps or argicultural fairs going on in your area.We have chicken swaps and they have all kinds of livestock to swap buy or sell.
Just a caution buying at auction. I bought 6 "Rhode Island Red" chicks. They were supposed to be less than a week old, and they looked a bit older than that, but I'm never good at ages. Supposed to be all pullets, but I didn't believe that for a second. Looks as if there are two roos and one hen, which would be okay, except for one thing.
They haven't grown much. The other chicks I had that were (supposedly) a week older are more than 3 times the size. I suspect they may indeed be RIR _bantams_. Not much use for my egg customers.*G*.
Buyer Beware *G*
Thanks for the info! I have a link on my bar at the top of my Firefox that goes to McMurray. Wondered how they were.
You'll get different responses from different people. I ordered from them twice, and had good results both times. Other people npt so much. The only reason I went with Cackle was for breeds MmcM didn't have, and this order because I'm adding to a friend's order.
Meyer Hatchery is really good too. They have a large selection and I've always gotten very healthy chicks from them. Order early!