Where can I order chicks from?

I have got a problem. In the spring I will be getting 10 chickens and 2 ducks. I do have a chicken store nearby but it doesn't sell all the chicks I want. I don't know where I can get the others though. Most places make you buy like 25 chicks and that is too much for me. If anyone wants to help me go ahead. Thanks and goodbye for now.

Cheetah1 said:

I have got a problem. In the spring I will be getting 10 chickens and 2 ducks. I do have a chicken store nearby but it doesn't sell all the chicks I want. I don't know where I can get the others though. Most places make you buy like 25 chicks and that is too much for me. If anyone wants to help me go ahead. Thanks and goodbye for now.

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My Pet Chicken offers small orders and a pretty good variety of breeds.
While minimum orders seem unreasonable keep in mind that one reason for the greater numbers is it provides for warmth during shipping and "filler" in the box which reduces the amount of space available for chicks to be bounced around in - which can increase the successful arrival of your birds. One option that allows you to meet the minimum order and not end up with more birds than you want is to turn around and sell the "extra" chicks - order popular breeds and breeds not commonly offered by the farm stores or other sources in your local area to increase the sell-ability of your extra birds. ALso, if you are set up to brood them, just not keep them long-term you can make them more desirable to potential buyers by getting them to the "coop ready" stage (fully feathered and no longer needing heat) or even taking them close to the point of lay.

Forewarning though with my pet chicken, shipping seems to be higher. If you can find a friend that wants chicks to, maybe you guys can go on together on the minimum order.
Otherwise, possibly craigslist?

CGilbert said:

Forewarning though with my pet chicken, shipping seems to be higher. If you can find a friend that wants chicks to, maybe you guys can go on together on the minimum order.
Otherwise, possibly craigslist?

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The shipping being higher is due to the "boutique" nature of MPC and the conveniences of the small order option - as well as the mentioned disadvantages/concerns of the small order shipping mentioned above (and the fact that MPC is more of a "middle man" than a hatchery - they are sourcing the birds from the hatchery) - all of these factors lead to a higher overall cost in dealing with MPC over a larger hatchery and larger order.

It also depends on when you order.....I was able to order just 8 Buff Brahmas from MPC in late March for April 6th delivery. Shipping is a little high but every time I've ordered from them I get healthy chicks ready to get on with learning to be chickens, so the extra cost is worth it to me. When it's colder out, such as when I ordered chicks for delivery the first week in March, I had to order more than the 8 that I got in my second order. The more chicks in the box, the warmer they stay during shipping, and I received my first batch when it was 9 below zero! In that shipment I did lose a couple, but I have the post office to thank for that - they were delayed at the sorting facility in Casper, Wyoming for an extra full day and night, and as I said it was cold, cold cold! Every time I've ordered pullets, that's exactly what I've received....all pullets. Not so with the feed store chicks I bought. <sigh> I've know not everyone has been that lucky getting all pullets, but that's how it's been for me.

If you are anywhere near Pensacola I am looking into doing a replacement order on Monday. Please feel free to contact me.

Thanks all of you, I will look into My Pet Chicken. It seems like it will work. If it doesn't I will just get 25 and sell some, I live somewhere selling them can be really easy. Anyways happy holidays.

Have you tried finding what you want locally from private breeders? You can post what you are looking for on your state's thread here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/26/where-am-i-where-are-you, or you can place a want ad here (though you need to have made at least 20 posts to do so):https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/53/chicks-1-day-to-8-weeks-old

Purchasing locally helps your local economy and the chicks don't have to go through the trauma of shipping.

KYTinpusher said:

Have you tried finding what you want locally from private breeders? You can post what you are looking for on your state's thread here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/26/where-am-i-where-are-you, or you can place a want ad here (though you need to have made at least 20 posts to do so):https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/53/chicks-1-day-to-8-weeks-old

Purchasing locally helps your local economy and the chicks don't have to go through the trauma of shipping.

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<head slap - why don't we have a head slap smiley, anyway?> I should have mentioned the same possibility and just plain spaced it! Good thing so many of you have Blooie's back, on accounta I sometimes ain't sure where her brain is......

Blooie said:

<head slap - why don't we have a head slap smiley, anyway?>

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I use this one for those moments I use it quite frequently.