Where to get 2014 chicks? ideas? breed suggestions?

I really want to get some chicks for 2014, although I'm not sure where to get them. I don't need show quality birds but decent looking, health birds are a must have, obviously. I only have four(a bunch of predators scavenged out hens a while ago... :c) now, and I want to get to having around 15, which would be an order of 11, and I'm not sure if any decent hatcheries allow a minimum order of that little... I live in the northwest and want a variety of breeds in my flock, here are some characteristics I look for in a breed:

- Good egg productivity(I don't raise meat chickens)
- Tolerant of other chickens(multibreed flock)
- Larger eggs
- Friendly towards people
- At least some breeds lay a little here and there throughout winter.
- medium or large sized
- no feathery feet, im afraid they may get drenched in the mud and wetness here... fuzzy heads are okay... would love to get a couple chicks and have dad freak out when they grow afros, haha. c:

If you just looking for hatchery birds I would look into McMurray, Purely Poultry, and maybe Ideal.

Few years back I used to order from hatcheries I ordered from McMurray then Purely Poultry who drop shipped from Ideal and had healthy chicks from day 1 and no doa from both. As for breeds I would try Crevecoeur for a top hat breed and try Black Australorps, Jersey Giants, and Naked Necks for eggs.. All are cold hardy and lay good size eggs.

I would recommend ideal because all of my birds came from there (although I bought them from my local feed store) but they have a minimum order size of 25 for chicks.

And for larger/nice breeds I would recommend black Australorps. They also lay well. Very calm too.

What about cackle hatchery, are they okay?

Do you have a local feed store that stocks chicks? I prefer this option. -can see the different breeds and choose the chicks you want. -eliminate shipping (potential issues).

We get our layers from our local feed mill also. I suggest BOs or Buff Orpingtons. They are supposed to be an excellent and winter hardy breed. also you could try Rhode Island Reds or/and Red Star or Red Sex links.

TXchickmum said:

Do you have a local feed store that stocks chicks? I prefer this option. -can see the different breeds and choose the chicks you want. -eliminate shipping (potential issues).

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yes, but when i bought from them ALL of my chickens but the wyandottes(who DID turn out gorgeous) were undersized, and my rooster had a wing deformity so he couldn't fly or stretch that wing out very much at all.

honeybunny said:

yes, but when i bought from them ALL of my chickens but the wyandottes(who DID turn out gorgeous) were undersized, and my rooster had a wing deformity so he couldn't fly or stretch that wing out very much at all.

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Well then for hatcheries I suggest McMurray or Ideal.

honeybunny said:

I really want to get some chicks for 2014, although I'm not sure where to get them. I don't need show quality birds but decent looking, health birds are a must have, obviously. I only have four(a bunch of predators scavenged out hens a while ago... :c) now, and I want to get to having around 15, which would be an order of 11, and I'm not sure if any decent hatcheries allow a minimum order of that little... I live in the northwest and want a variety of breeds in my flock, here are some characteristics I look for in a breed:

- Good egg productivity(I don't raise meat chickens)
- Tolerant of other chickens(multibreed flock)
- Larger eggs
- Friendly towards people
- At least some breeds lay a little here and there throughout winter.
- medium or large sized
- no feathery feet, im afraid they may get drenched in the mud and wetness here... fuzzy heads are okay... would love to get a couple chicks and have dad freak out when they grow afros, haha. c:

Click to expand...

Call Cackle Hatchery with your questions and they will guide you the right way. They are very customer service friendly.

TXchickmum said:

Do you have a local feed store that stocks chicks? I prefer this option. -can see the different breeds and choose the chicks you want. -eliminate shipping (potential issues).

Click to expand...

I like this too. But most times they are limit in selection. But I like it.