Hatchery sending extras?

If you are not too far from the New Hampshire border, we have had good luck with Derry Feed and Supply for 1 day old chicks (all healthy, correct sex). I think there are also Agways in Massachusetts. We've used the Milford, NH Agway also with good luck.
 
If you are not too far from the New Hampshire border, we have had good luck with Derry Feed and Supply for 1 day old chicks (all healthy, correct sex). I think there are also Agways in Massachusetts. We've used the Milford, NH Agway also with good luck.
Im probably 45 minutes - 1 hour away from NH border. Im closer to RI/CT. But I will check that out too. Much closer than ordering from one of the big hatcheries. Thanks
 
I second or third that about the Local feed store. Do make sure you know what a breed is supposed to look like as a chick, and often times the bins get mixed up.
One day I went in to get feed, and a bin with chicks just said "pullets"
I asked what kind of chicks are they?
The employee responded "pullets"
I refrased my question: "yes, I understand they are pullets, but what breed are the chicks?"
Employee responded again "pullets"
Then I walked away shaking my head.
 
I will only get my chicks from hatcheries from here on out.  I started by ordering 25 pullets online at about $3 each.  Then when they were about 3-4 weeks old I picked out my half and listed the other half on Craigslist at $6 each and they sold the same day!  I should have listed them for more, seriously.  I kept contact with the person and it turned out we had 100% pullets, so that worked out well. We didn't lose any in shipping, so the experience was wonderful.  

Just a few month ago I decided to add 6 new pullets and a cockerel to my flock and got them from a breeder... never again!  I realized within a few days the birds were in poor shape.  Luckily I had put them in their own run, but they shared a fence.  Then started realizing one had a bacterial infection in her eye so bad her eye had an ulcer behind it.  I had taken her to the vet because I feared for my entire flock now.  $200 later she's my favorite lol.  I also discovered they had a horrible case of lice... again, they shared air space with my prior flock so I had to treat all 20 birds for lice, no fun.  Then I caught one sneezing and feared the dreaded incurable respiratory thing (can't remember the name) that causes you to have a closed flock forever and they will always be carriers.  Rushed her to the vet only to find out she was perfectly healthy and now I was jumping at every little sound.  Point is, I had 12 beautiful healthy girls and I risked them all with what I did.  

I'm happy to say I have 20 healthy birds finally (despite one being blind in an eye) but I will never ever again buy birds from anywhere but a hatchery.  As a matter of fact I have 6 new pullets on order for May... but they'll be raised in their brooder beyond the quarantine period.  Since my order is smaller this time, if I get any "packing peanuts" I'll just list them for free on Craigslist once I determine they are cockerels.  But now that I'm typing this...  you have me wondering if I should just order large again and sell half... hmmmmm.... it worked very well last time....


That is what I do - order large and sell off extras for a profit. I can come close to getting other people to almost completely pay for my entire order.
 
I second or third that about the Local feed store. Do make sure you know what a breed is supposed to look like as a chick, and often times the bins get mixed up.
One day I went in to get feed, and a bin with chicks just said "pullets"
I asked what kind of chicks are they?
The employee responded "pullets"
I refrased my question: "yes, I understand they are pullets, but what breed are the chicks?"
Employee responded again "pullets"
Then I walked away shaking my head.


Been there and had same reaction.

Yes very important to know what the chicks should look like.
 
Im probably 45 minutes - 1 hour away from NH border. Im closer to RI/CT. But I will check that out too. Much closer than ordering from one of the big hatcheries. Thanks
There is also Dodge Grain in Salem NH. They get a wide variety of chicks in, and will special order fr you if the breed is available.
 
There is also Dodge Grain in Salem NH. They get a wide variety of chicks in, and will special order fr you if the breed is available.
Thanks I will keep that in mind too. I went to tractor supply and they said they get some but the women didnt really seem to know any details. We have a local small business feed store that get them too. I called them and they said they could order whatever I wanted. They seemed to know more like where they get them etc, I think they said Murray McMurray or Meyer can't remember which but it was an "M" name. That way I could order the small batch I need with their big batch.

Thanks
 
Avoid Tractor Supply for chicks, if at all possible. Friends purchased pullets from them and ended up with 50 percent roosters. Sounds like the employees mixed up the pullet and straight run bins. I've heard in passing about this happening to others who bought from TS. In my opinion, this is less likely to happen at a feed and grain store which know exactly what they've ordered.
 
I went to tractor supply and they said they get some but the women didnt really seem to know any details. We have a local small business feed store that get them too.
I agree with the above poster. Avoid Tractor Supply if you can. They are notorious for not having a clue what they get in for chicks. Selling meaties as Leghorns. straight run as pullets, black sex link cockerels as barred Rock pullets, etc. Not intentionally, but sad just the same when people get surprise males or meat birds when they want pet layers.

Dodge does have no minimums on chicks, so if you decide later that you want one or 2 of a breed to add to a batch of chicks the policy is buyer friendly. Works out great when I have a singleton hatchling that needs a friend. But if you have a local feed store that will special order for you definitely then go with them.
 
Makes good sense. Im not ready to order yet as I still have to build my coop but I will take all of this into consideration. Ya, my feed store definitely had a better handle on things than tractor supply.
 

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